By Ashley Gardner, Director of Recruiting & Sales at HR-Rethought
Others First. Our HR-Rethought team doesn’t just tout this as one of our Core Values – we live by it each and every day in our work with our clients and among our Team. We had an amazing opportunity to take that value even further and outside of HR-Rethought into the community by volunteering with Harvesters. It was an afternoon of giving back, and, for that, we are thankful! The opportunity instilled a renewed sense of purpose, teamwork, and reminded us of pieces of the world that operate outside of our everyday life, which was also humbling.
Our Team arrived not knowing which project we’d be working on – which became part of the fun as we discussed which assignment we’d have for the day. We had diligently reviewed the “appropriate attire” direction – not hard to follow given the cold weather this time of year. Though we had some sort of idea of what to expect – it was an even more wonderful experience than we could have imagined.
We were assigned to pack boxes for seniors.
Each member of our Team had a particular duty on an assembly line, from creating the boxes to wrapping them once stacked on the pallet and all the packing and taping in between. As expected, it started a little rough with everyone getting used to and getting in the groove of their particular duty. However, within a few minutes, we were operating smoothly. We finished our assignment earlier than expected – and time flew by! What did that mean? We got to do something else – that something else proved to be even more fun than the first – bagging potatoes.
Bags of Potatoes
We finished out our volunteer time digging in 2000-pound bags of potatoes and putting them into smaller family sized packs. Did we giggle at some of the shapes? Did we say “ewww” at some of the rotten ones? Of course! Though what we did is serious, we found the fun in it (another Core Value of Positivity!) We didn’t mind getting a little dirty, rolling up our sleeves, and putting Others First to help fight hunger.
If you’ve never been to the Harvesters facility or volunteered, our entire Team recommends it. It’s an eye-opening experience, for one which we know you’d be thankful for as well.
Moving Forward
As we wrapped up our day at Harvesters, we left with full hearts and a renewed sense of purpose. The experience underscored the value of community and the incredible impact we can have when we come together for a common cause.
We encourage other teams, organizations, and individuals to consider volunteering at Harvesters or a similar organization in their area. Not only will you make a tangible difference in the lives of others, but you’ll also gain insights and connections that will stay with you long after the day is over.
Let’s keep the spirit of “Others First” alive in our daily lives, proving that small acts of service can lead to meaningful change—for those we help and for ourselves.
Thank you, Harvesters for hosting HR-Rethought!
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