It’s no surprise our team members go above and beyond when it comes to any task. Whether in our stores or out in the community, when we come together, it’s more than just doing the right thing – it’s making a lasting, direct impact for our neighbors.
As part of our ongoing mission to support the communities we serve, our Detroit team members recently volunteered their time at locally renowned organization, Focus: Hope. More than 60 team members from our stores across Metro Detroit came together to pack enough food boxes to fill 44 pallets, and in true Meijer fashion, bypassing the nonprofit’s previous record of 40 pallets set by a volunteer group.
“I was so proud of the team,” said Tony Moore, East Michigan Regional Vice President, who oversees 46 stores in Metro Detroit.
Our estimated 60 team members were divided into packing teams, which quickly turned into a friendly competition to motivate maximum efficiency and impact. It was evident the hard work paid off. The team didn’t just break a record, they filled the hearts of many who depend on Focus: Hope as their food source.
Focus: Hope provides monthly food assistance to more than 48,000 individuals across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. With so many communities in need, the high demand for food assistance programs continues to grow in Metro Detroit and beyond. By volunteering their time and skills, our team helped ensure thousands of local seniors will receive nutritious food each month.
On top of volunteering their time, the team donated $5,000 to the organization.
“One of our continuous goals is to continue to integrate in the community,” Tony said. “We spend a lot of time educating our leadership teams on the different communities we serve. The team members love the opportunity to be able to give their time and serve the community because we know we’ve hired folks that Focus: HOPE has helped along the way.”
Tony added not only was this an important volunteering opportunity, but his team also had a lot of fun at the same time.
“They shared how proud they were to be able to take the time to participate,” Tony said. “All of us, at some point in our lives, have had those situations where we may not have known where the next meal was coming from, or have had a relative or friend who experienced that.”