Corporate Partner Making Big Impact with Good on the Go Project
A small army of volunteers from Gavilon traveled three floors down in their downtown Omaha corporate office and found an assembly line of household cleaning items setup on several tables. A room over, two more lines were setup – one full of hygiene products and the other with healthy snacks – all part of a United Way of the Midlands “Good on the Go” project.
“Good on the Go is an amazing on-site, kit building volunteer opportunity. Which means employees can give back and volunteer in a meaningful way without leaving the office,” said Jacob Orand, Manager of Volunteerism and Corporate Relations at United Way of the Midlands. “These kits will really help ease the burden on a lot of our local nonprofits, but also provide critical resources for our neighbors in need. In addition, employees really get to be involved in making an impact on their community.”
During a Good on the Go project, employee volunteers assemble kits for people in need right where they work. United Way of the Midlands orders and ships the needed supplies, coordinates the event, and then works with the company or organization to arrange delivery of the kits to local nonprofit agencies.
Gavilon took on three Good on the Go Projects on Wednesday, September 21, assembling 900 kits:
- 300 Feminine Hygiene Kits benefiting Girls, Inc.
- 300 Welcome Home Kits benefiting No More Empty Pots
- 300 Healthy Snack Pack Kits benefiting Youth Emergency Services
Feminine Hygiene Kits
Welcome Kits
Healthy Snack Packs
“I am seriously touched, overwhelmed and just in awe of the people that work here who I call colleagues, who I call friends. They made very quick work of 900 kits, and it was just amazing to watch,” said Angela Heitman, Philanthropy Coordinator at Gavilon. “I feel like United Way is one of those great partners in the community in which when, if we need a suggestion on where we can go to help, how can we help, who is in need – they have that list ready and waiting.”
It’s an effort that is making a lasting impact with community nonprofits. “United Way and companies that are there for the girls year after year create a long-term impact where we see change and we see girls achieving amazing things,” said Roberta Wilhem, Executive Director at Girls, Inc. “Because of this support, our girls are becoming self-sufficient, confident women with fulfilling work who can support themselves and a family, if necessary. That’s something that you see over a lifetime. The stepping stones to get there include things like daily hygiene kits. Having toothpaste today makes a difference. Having deodorant today makes you more confident about going to school or being in a locker room with other girls. It makes a huge difference.”
If you would like to get involved and take part in Good on the Go where you work or in your community, please contact Jacob Orand at jorand@uwmidlands.org or 402-997-7070.
By sharing your time and talents, you can touch someone’s life in a truly powerful way.
A can of food on a pantry shelf. 30 minutes spent reading with a student. A fresh layer of paint in a shelter. These may seem like small acts of kindness, but they make a world of a difference for individuals in need. You can offer the hope and dignity that helps someone build a better life for their family, today.