Posts Tagged ‘giving’

Ways to Serve, No Foolin’!

Friday, March 29th, 2013

Bob Stern

April 1st is special for a number of reasons: April Fool’s Day; opening day for Major League Baseball; and now it’s officially recognized as the start of Sodexo Servathon!

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley issued a formal proclamation this year, saluting Servathon and Sodexo’s important work fighting hunger in local communities.

Servathon is Sodexo’s largest employee engagement initiative in North America and around the world. Last year 40,000 employees in 35 countries got involved in the fight against hunger.

This year, I’m afraid the need is as great as ever. 50 million Americans, including more than 16 million children, don’t have enough to eat.

Since improving quality of life is important to Sodexo, it just makes sense that we ask employees to get involved in service projects in their communities to help fight hunger.

Volunteering at the Manna Food Center.

This year we’re asking employees to include youth in their service efforts too. I’ve found that today’s generation of youth is amazingly public-service oriented, and usually very eager to help those in need.

Involving kids also helps raise awareness around the issue of hunger, and helps ensure a strong pipeline of future leaders and volunteers in the fight against hunger. I encourage everyone to think about the young people in their life and find easy but effective ways for them to help out.

Earlier this week, my son, Elliott, joined me and several of my Sodexo colleagues at a volunteer event sponsored by PANG at Manna Food Center near our headquarters.

He’s done it before and he knows that poverty persists in every county and just about every school. My son is student teaching in a high school now, and he told me he has seen how hard it is for students to study when they are hungry. Having my son alongside me for Servathon was a special experience.

PANG, a Sodexo Employee Business Resource group, volunteering at Manna Food Center during Sodexo Servathon.

Need some thought-starters on how to mobilize youth to tackle the massive issue of hunger? Here are just a few simple ideas:

  • Block-out some time; whatever you can spare, minutes, hours or more and prepare or serve meals at a soup kitchen or sort food at a local food bank.
  • Take the No Kid Hungry Pledge, and ask young people in your life to take the pledge with you.
  • Raise funds or collect food to donate in your community.
  • Visit No Kid Hungry 2 for cool ideas on how to involve youth.

You can even check out Sodexo’s Servathon page for additional resources. And don’t forget to let us know what you’ve done, by sharing your Servathon story through our online survey.

Robert A. Stern is senior vice president and general counsel for Sodexo, Inc. and president of Sodexo Foundation, which supports innovative programs to help children and families in the United States who are at-risk of hunger.

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Reflecting on a Heroic Past

Monday, February 11th, 2013

Dennis Shepherd

It’s hard to believe nearly three years have flown by since experiencing one of the more memorable moments in my life. No, certainly not as important as my wedding day or the birth of my first child – but memorable just the same.

Nearly three years ago, I had the opportunity to see the White House for the first time in my life. It was during that same trip to Washington I had a personal meeting with my representative, Congressman Walter Jones at the U.S. Capitol. The reason for the trip? I was being honored by Sodexo Foundation on stage at the historic Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C. for the volunteer work that I do in my community to fight hunger.

The memory of those experiences and being called a “Hero of Everyday Life” still move me. The reason it is so memorable is because it was a once in a lifetime chance to see and meet so many important figures and to be honored publicly before a thousand onlookers at a benefit dinner. It was more than I could imagine. It was surreal.

None of it would have been possible without a Sodexo district manager who was aware of my volunteer work and felt it needed to be recognized. Getting to know those who you work with and supervise beyond the scope of their 9-5 responsibilities can mean everything for both morale and productivity.

Dennis Shepherd (top left) and the rest of the 2010 Heroes of Everyday Life.

In addition to all of the larger-than-life experiences I had as a result of being named a Hero of Everyday Life, I came away with a couple of small but important lessons that I’ve been able to apply in my life. The first is that sometimes we need to talk about the good work we are doing, because you never know where it may lead or what additional support you might come by. Another is simply that anyone, young or old, can make a huge difference – specifically in fighting hunger. I saw that first hand through the stories of young people honored just before me, on the same stage that night.

I’ve since started taking my sixteen year old daughter along with me to raise donations, and to volunteer at our local soup kitchen. She’s a hard worker and has been helpful in doing more charity work to improve our community.

There is no doubt in my mind about the power of public recognition. I was so inspired after my trip to Washington that I volunteered the very next weekend and raised additional funds and collected more than 1200 pounds of food. If you are an eyewitness to random acts of kindness, acknowledge them. Recognize your fellow employees, praise youth efforts and nominate individuals doing exceptional things to fight hunger. Better yet, join in.

The $5000 grant I received from Sodexo Foundation helped the Jacksonville Soup Kitchen, which was for their Meals on Wheels program to take food to the elderly. If you know a Sodexo employee who is working to end hunger, recognize their efforts by submitting a Hero nomination on www.SodexoFoundation.org.

I’m sure I’d still be doing the volunteer work that I do even without the recognition, but it does have value. Think of the fond memories it will create for someone for years and years to come.

Dennis Shepherd is a driver for Sodexo at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and is a 2010 Hero of Everyday Life. Read more about Dennis and other recipients here.

The 2013 Heroes of Everyday Life® nomination period is open now through March 8.

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Stopping Hunger Has No Age Limits

Monday, November 26th, 2012

Joshua Williams

Right around this time, just a little more than two years ago, I was doing exactly what I hope a lot of young people are doing right now… applying for the Stephen J Brady STOP Hunger Scholarship.

Along with four other students, I was lucky enough to be selected as one of its national scholarship recipients for the volunteer work that I do to fight hunger. That recognition included a $5,000 grant for my education and a great trip to Washington, DC for me and two other guests! That was all great, but it wasn’t just about what I would get out of it. It was really about what I would be able to give… or actually, continue to give.

Being recognized as a Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholarship recipient also meant a $5,000 grant from Sodexo Foundation to my own non-profit, Joshua’s Heart Foundation. That funding helped my organization assist a lot more people and it has grown larger since I received the scholarship. Joshua’s Heart has a mission to “Stomp Out Hunger” by providing basic necessities, such as food and other grocery products, and by effectively engaging and educating communities.

Joshua Williams working the donations area of his non-profit. To learn more about the scholarship, click on the photograph.

The amount of food that we have given out from the time I received the grant until now has nearly doubled. It was 250,000 lbs. before the grant, compared to the 400,000 lbs. we now distribute. We also had a large increase in volunteers since the recognition, especially with youth.

The added visibility from being named a STOP Hunger scholar also led to a number of other opportunities. In 2011 Walmart awarded Joshua’s Heart a grant of $20,000 to start our backpack program through its 12 Days of Giving campaign. In addition we are now partners with Whole Foods Markets, which sponsors our cooking demonstration that teaches families how to eat a healthy yet delicious meal. Most recently, I was honored to be presented with the Champions of Change award by the White House.

I am proud to say I was a Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholar in 2010. The award is by far one of my favorite and most helpful recognitions presented to Joshua’s Heart. It raised great awareness about our work and it proves that you’re never too young to make a difference. I hope these words inspire another young person to apply, just like I did. It could lead to some amazing opportunities for you and the communities you serve.

Joshua Williams is a 2010 Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholarship recipient and the founder of Joshua’s Heart Foundation. He also is a middle school student at Ransom Everglades School in Miami, Florida.

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Young Champions

Monday, November 12th, 2012

Peyton Medick

For so many reasons 2012 has been AMAZING. Participating as an Olympic torch bearer was certainly among my top highlights, but another had to do with my work to fight hunger. It’s a cause that has been important to me even before creating my non-profit, Peyton’s Promise, which started as a simple food drive.

Thanks to Sodexo Foundation, I had the honor of being named a 2012 Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholarship recipient this summer.  I was honored and humbled to be put in the same category as so many other amazing youth volunteers. I loved hearing their stories and taking tips and ideas from them on how their organizations have become successful.

Like me, they believe that the importance of youth involvement in fighting hunger is HUGE. When I began my organization at 8 years old, many people did not think it could accomplish as much as it did – not even me!  Anyone of any age can truly make a difference. My little food drive has since grown into an incredible food distribution network that provides food supplies to pantries that reach 5,000 families each month!

The Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholarship has also made a huge impact in my local community. The $5,000 grant helped Covenant Community Presbyterian Church’s Food Pantry provide for the growing number of families that they serve. Just during this summer, the food pantry’s attendance went from 80 families per month to 300 families per month. The food pantry remained stocked throughout the summer thanks to this grant and its freezer has also been filled with frozen meat thanks to Sodexo Foundation. 

If you are a student working to fight hunger, especially childhood hunger, I encourage you to apply for the Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholarship.  It was an experience of a lifetime to be invited to Washington, D.C. where I received $5,000 for my education and another $5,000 grant for my local food pantry. Our community efforts to fight hunger would not be where they are today without the help of Sodexo Foundation and the Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholarship.

Ending hunger might seem like an Olympic feat, but as more youth volunteers take up the torch, we are bound to meet the challenge.

Peyton Medick (9th Grade) is the founder of Peyton’s Promise and a 2012 Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholarship recipient. Student volunteers fighting hunger can apply for the 2013 scholarship by visiting www.sodexofoundation.org.

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Making Connections

Monday, November 5th, 2012

Rebecca Fawns

Recently one 5th grader, Makayla, who participates in my Community Cooking Connections (CCC) program, told me how she takes home food each week to her grandmother and then helps teach her how to make a healthy meal for $2.00!  She said that really knowing how to shop, not just focusing on sales is a better strategy, it’s a lot more fun and it helps her eat better. She added that food banks help by giving “things” but learning to cook means she and her grandmother eat healthier no matter what food they have at home.

I’m so proud that a program I created is able to offer real-world lessons like this and help others in our area.

The Community Cooking Connections program is all about the important role youth can have in improving nutrition for young people in America.  Why do we let the youth run this program? Simple, the creativity that runs through youthful minds can help end hunger with a flare and lots of fun.

Community Cooking Connections has had a lot of support as well. I was recently selected as a Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholarship recipient, which in addition to providing $5,000 for my education awarded a grant for $5,000 to CCC.

Apply Now!

Those funds helped the program encourage families to help each other and provided a community resource for sharing food with each other – especially the kids.

As one of the national winners of this award, I also received an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. where I was able to meet with a number of fellow STOP Hunger Scholars – all doing amazing work.

Rebecca being presented with her scholarship by Sodexo chief operating officer and Education president, Lorna Donatone.

I would advise other students working to fight hunger to apply for this great scholarship, run by Sodexo Foundation. They are currently accepting applications through December 5, 2012.

It’s an amazing opportunity that allows you to help others recognize how vital it is for all of us to fight hunger in the United States. 

No child should go hungry – there is no reason for it.

The Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholarship offers one more way to help raise awareness about the issue and connect those in need to valuable resources.

When I think of committed youth like Makayla, sharing ideas with her grandmother, I’m convinced that their fresh ideas can make a difference in helping us solve the problem of hunger in the U.S.

Rebecca Fawns is the founder of Community Cooking Connections and a 2012 Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Scholarship recipient. Student volunteers fighting hunger can apply for the 2013 award through December 5th by visiting www.sodexofoundation.org.

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A Force of Wills

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

I will...

Most of us want to help when we see or hear of people in need, but often we simply feel too overwhelmed. This is especially true when considering the issue of hunger in America where 49 million people – 16 million children, are not always sure about where their next meal will come from. We don’t feel like we can possibly make a dent in what seems like an insurmountable problem. The fact is, none of us can do it all alone, but together even the smallest of individual efforts done in collaboration with others can be a tremendous force for change.

But, where do you start? It all begins with just two simple words: “I will…” That’s exactly how Sodexo is encouraging action this month.

Every April, Sodexo holds its annual Servathon event, which engages employees, clients, vendors and customers to volunteer time effort and expertise tackling hunger in their local communities and holding fundraisers to support area hunger-releif organizations. For 2012 it kicked off its “I will…” campaign, asking 125,000 employees in North America to make a simple statement about what they will do for Servathon and then post it to the company’s STOP Hunger database.

For every statement that is posted to the STOP Hunger database French’s Foodservice, a longtime vendor partner to Sodexo, is donating $5 to Sodexo Foundation – up to $5,000 to help end childhood hunger in America.  In addition the supplier is also donating up to an additional $10,000 to Sodexo Foundation when Sodexo client sites order preselected French’s products between March 1 and April 30, 2012.

“I will” has been extremely successful in engaging a great number of pledges for Servathon. Here is a very small sample of the many that have already been submitted:

I will provide after-school snacks to school-aged children. – Frances

I will recruit 10 employees to enroll in payroll deductions. – Charmion

I will donate non-perishables to my local food pantry. – Allyson

I will coordinate a food drive and collect $32,000 lbs of food and raise $4,500. – Jonathan

I will sort and repackage food at a food bank. – Bob

            I will double my payroll giving to Sodexo Foundation. – Shondra

Sodexo employees continue to make “I will” statements in support of Servathon every day. For anyone reading this post that hasn’t already made and posted a commitment, I hope this inspires you to do so today.

Imagine the force of will and the impact of 125,000 Sodexo employees in North America or 413,000 Sodexo employees worldwide in 80 countries working to beat hunger. Post something today. I will. Will you?

Robert A. Stern is senior vice president and general counsel for Sodexo, Inc. and president of the Sodexo Foundation, which supports innovative programs to help children and families in the United States who are at-risk of hunger. 

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