Taking Inventory Through Charity

The end of the year is a time when businesses usually take a physical inventory. But, at its core, business isn’t about things. It’s about people. So this time of year is also a good time to take a social inventory. What are we doing to help others? How are we making this world a better place?

I’m proud to say I work in an organization with a big heart. And it gets especially big around Christmas.

In early December, our office turned a moving van into a sleigh and hauled hundreds of new toys from Branding Brand, a company in Pittsburgh, to the Monroeville Mall. There we joined folks from throughout our community, working shoulder to shoulder in the annual “Stuff-A-Bus.” Orchestrated by 96.1 KISS FM, the five-day event collected 45 busloads (packed floor to ceiling) of new, unopened toys for the annual Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots. You can bet those toys are bringing smiles to lots of little faces. And feelings of thankfulness to their struggling parents.

Stuff A Bus Event - 96.1 Kiss FM - Toys For Tots    Toys for Tots Stuff a Bus Event    Stuff a Bus Event - Packing Toys in Moving Truck    Packing Toys for Tots Donations in Moving Truck

 

Employees at our Cleveland, Ohio branch, also supported the Toys for Tots in their community. They collected 1,400 toys and cash donations of $44,000. When they later delivered some of those toys, along with gifts from the Old Stone Church, to the Family Promise Christmas Party, the Weleski crew dressed in costumes to make their “presence” as much fun as possible for the 64 homeless kids who received the toys.

Toys for Tots 2014 Cleveland Browns Game    Toys for Tots 2014 Cleveland Browns Game - Military

 

Each year, Weleski employees give a portion of their regular earnings to the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. The withholdings are strictly voluntary, and we have close to 100 percent participation. We’re proud that our employees are so willing to give!

Angel Tree Charity We were pleased to volunteer our service to the Ladies Guild of Mount Saint Peter Church in New Kensington in December. Their Angel Tree is a community outreach that raises money to purchase Christmas gifts for families in need. When they had no way to get the gifts delivered for wrapping and distribution, a special angel intervened. Weleski employee Andrea Scalise asked for our company’s help, so Weleski stepped up with a truck and crew to make sure 49 local families would have gifts under their trees. Weleski associates Bill Redalin and Mike Harbison played the roles of Santa and helper.

 

 

Adopt a Family Charity Work It’s especially gratifying when you can take part in the giving personally, as our office did for the Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center serving victims of domestic violence. We adopted two families, taking their wish lists to the store and buying the things they said they needed. Everyone in our Pittsburgh office got involved—we made sure those two families would not be wanting this Christmas. In the photo to the right you can see some of our folks who took part. When I look at their faces, I’m reminded that it truly is better to give than to receive!