When Stephanie Shuster arrives to help at East Cooper Meals on Wheels, she’s a volunteer just like every other delivery driver, but she’s still on the clock. Shuster works at Bank of America, and the company encourages its employees to give their time back to the community. Since 2011, every Monday, Bank of America employees take turns driving and delivering meals on Route 1, which includes Snee Farms and surrounding neighborhoods.
Stephanie loves the Meals on Wheels family and everyone on the Bank of America team gets more out of volunteering at Meals on Wheels than they give. “We are all grateful to have the opportunity to serve within our local community and engage with the Meals on Wheels clients that might not otherwise see a friendly face on a regular basis!” said Stephanie.
Establishing a partnership with East Cooper Meals on Wheels more than a decade ago was also a natural fit for Ingevity’s mission and philanthropic goals. It gives employees the chance to push up their sleeves and have a direct impact in addressing a local need.
“Ingevity’s mission is to purify, protect and enhance the world around us,” shared Monifa Ellington, manager of community relations for Ingevity. “We want to be a positive influence in the communities where we operate, and we do this by focusing on STEM education, environmental sustainability, and human health and wellness,” she said.
One member of the volunteer team from Ingevity is Becky Vaughan, who furthers Ingevity’s connection to East Cooper Meals on Wheels by also serving on its Board of Directors. Vaughan really enjoys bringing the meal recipients a sense of connection and care with her visits, and she’s thankful that her professional background and skills have also benefited the local nonprofit.
“My service on the Meals on Wheels Board of Directors has brought me a deep level of satisfaction. I feel my skills in communications have been especially useful in guiding board decisions and contributing to the overall mission. I have learned to listen closely to different perspectives and to trust that this diversity will ultimately result in the best outcome for the organization,” she said.
Bank of America and Ingevity are just two companies that purposefully encourage volunteering at East Cooper Meals on Wheels amongst their employees. A route team started by Blackbaud employees years ago continues on, even though many of the volunteers have now moved on to work elsewhere. Motley Rice, a long-time supporter of the nonprofit’s annual gala and auction, participates in an annual day of volunteering. In the past six months, the South Carolina Stingrays, Whole Foods, Southern Lumber and Millwork, and SouthState Bank also sent employees to ride-along with our regular volunteers to see our mission in action.
“Corporate volunteering, whether on our Board, for a special project, or by adopting a meal delivery route, doesn’t have to require a lot of time, but it is such an impactful experience,” said George Roberts, President/CEO of East Cooper Meals on Wheels.
Many studies highlight that businesses which encourage volunteerism benefit from improved employee retention, greater employee engagement, and increased productivity, perhaps even more so if the nonprofit’s mission has a connection to the work employees do on a daily basis.
“We love when people have a chance to experience what we do, because it’s hard to describe the feeling you get when you ring a doorbell and really get to know the person on the other side of the door who is counting on you for a meal,” Roberts said. East Cooper Meals on Wheels welcomes any business interested in volunteering, even if it’s just for a day, to reach out to George Roberts at (843) 881-9350 or groberts@ecmow.org to coordinate an opportunity.
