Jonathan (Jon) Stump, Vice President of Product Providers at Independence Blue Cross (Independence), is happy with the good issues his crew has completed collectively — not simply within the workplace but in addition in the neighborhood.

Since Jon joined Product Providers seven years in the past, his crew (made up of roughly 40 associates) has made giving again a part of the division’s tradition, finishing a number of volunteer occasions collectively by means of Independence’s Blue Crew company volunteer program. The consequence: Since 2017, his crew has donated greater than 185 hours to help three native nonprofits in our area.

How It Began

Jon nonetheless remembers the primary volunteer venture his crew labored on.

“The crew made 150 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Saint John’s Hospice, a shelter for homeless males in Heart Metropolis,” he stated. “After that, we simply saved going.”

Over time, the crew has adopted an area household and supplied presents for them throughout the holidays, collected objects and made care packages for Saint John’s Hospice, and ready and served Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to seniors on the Philadelphia Senior Heart (simply to call just a few).

“My crew is raring to proceed discovering methods to present again,” Jon stated. “Once we do issues collectively and see the affect in our neighborhood (similar to seniors having fun with meal), it motivates us to need to do extra.”

Sharing the Pleasure of Volunteering

Jon’s government assistant, Adraine Lewis, has been integral to the crew’s volunteering success.

“She makes certain to schedule and coordinate volunteer occasions for our crew all year long,” he stated. “Giving again is necessary to her.”

As a member of the Blue Crew, Adraine has been giving again to the neighborhood for a few years.

“As soon as upon a time, I used to be on the receiving facet. My mom stayed on the Reward of Life home in Philadelphia, so I do know the affect that volunteers make on these households,” she stated. “I began volunteering on the Reward of Life years in the past and nonetheless do it right this moment.”

Adraine is obsessed with giving again, so when the chance arose for a crew volunteering venture, she was excited to assist make it occur.

“It’s an incredible feeling to assist others. I like sharing that with others,” she stated. “Plus, it’s an effective way to bond along with your coworkers.”

Supporting Their Communities Through the Pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, every thing modified. With stay-at-home orders in place and the change to distant work, in-person volunteering was now not an choice. The group needed to pivot to fulfill the rising wants of the neighborhood.

“We acknowledged that it was powerful for everybody. There was lots of concern and isolation, and essential providers had been stopped,” Jon stated. “We knew we needed to do one thing. There was a lot want.”

The crew was dedicated to creating an affect in the neighborhood even when they couldn’t collect collectively to do it. Adraine labored with the Blue Crew to provide you with a method for the group to securely help the neighborhood. They selected a digital volunteering venture (they had been one of many first teams of associates at Independence to volunteer nearly!) with Caring for Buddies and wrote “Caring Notes” that accompanied meals for seniors — all from the consolation of their very own properties.

“The neighborhood wanted assist greater than ever,” stated Jon. “We didn’t notice how necessary this venture was. The founding father of the group defined that the playing cards had been much more invaluable and impactful than the meals for lonely seniors.”

Altogether, the crew participated in 4 digital volunteer initiatives throughout the top of the pandemic.

Trying Ahead to the Future

This previous Thanksgiving, the Product Providers crew was in a position to resume in-person volunteering for the primary time for the reason that begin of the pandemic. They volunteered in particular person at Caring for Buddies, the group they supported as a part of their first digital venture. The crew was excited to assist the group by packing over 500 emergency meals containers and getting ready meals within the kitchen. Caring Notes had been positioned into each the meals containers and meals earlier than being delivered to the recipients.

“It felt so good to return collectively once more and provides again to the neighborhood,” stated Adraine.

Now that the crew is ready to collect collectively, they’re able to go.

“We’re getting collectively to plan our 2023 volunteer occasions. We hope to do at the least 4 this 12 months as a gaggle,” stated Jon. “We’re glad to be again in particular person.”