During my time with GFM we have volunteered with incredible organizations. From cleanup at Judi’s House to stocking shelves at Metro CareRing to packing lunches at Food Bank of the Rockies, our team loves to get our hands dirty—which is what inspired us to actually play in the mud and volunteer with Feed Denver this month.
May has been extremely busy here at GFM, and it never fails for a volunteer event scheduled months in advance to fall during a hectic time. The morning of such community service outings can be stressful as teams prepare to step away from cell phones and emails for a significant portion of the day.
However, when taking a quick break to volunteer is especially stressful, we know GFM team members need it most. Dare I say, each of us who volunteered with Feed Denver walked away with much more than dirty hands and hugs from the family we helped.
Feed Denver’s mission is to create an urban farming education center where people come to learn how to grow fresh food at high altitude, gain hands-on job training, and develop entrepreneurial skills that open avenues to self-sufficiency. GFM was able to help build out a backyard, urban farm just north of Denver so the owners can grow and eventually sell vegetables, fruits, herbs and more at the Feed Denver pop up market in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Northwest Denver. The expertise and resources Feed Denver will provide to this family – and so many others – empower economic independence through harvesting and bringing fresh, locally grown produce to market.
The home owners were some of the most positive and gracious people we have volunteered with and everyone from GFM who participated is already asking when we can go back to help them again.
Whether you take time out to volunteer as a company, or encourage employees to pursue community profits on their own time, giving back to the community for just a few hours can invigorate your workforce and bring much needed perspective to team members. Weave community service into the fabric of your company culture early and often. I am confident the investment – time and/or money – will be returned countless times over.
