Butterflies, books and boxed lunches just a few ways we gave back
Employees were buzzing with activity during the third annual Williams Volunteer Week, planting pollinator gardens, cleaning up community parks, stocking food banks and promoting literacy.
More than 1,000 employees volunteered at 106 projects in 17 states during Williams Volunteer Week, which coincided with National Volunteer Week. The yearly employee-led event builds on the company’s tradition of community stewardship through employee volunteerism and financial support.
At Euchee Butterfly Farm near Tulsa, Oklahoma, employees dug up flower fields and sorted seeds that will be distributed to Native American tribes throughout the United States.
“I volunteered specifically for this project because I just love working in the garden and I want to help our native species continue to thrive,” said employee Danielle Walker. “We want to be good neighbors and I think anything we can do to help the environment and our communities at the same time is a win-win.”
Farm director Jane Breckinridge thanked the volunteers and said she hopes they were inspired to learn more about pollinator protection and habitat conservation.
At two Georgia field offices, employees built and stocked eight Free Little Libraries that will be placed in the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta.
Employee Tina Kitchens said she wanted to give back to the organization that once provided her children with after-school care.
“As a single mom, I needed all the help I could get,” she said. “So, I felt like this could be a good way for the students and adults alike to have a cute library to gather around at each center, while promoting a love of reading.”
Tyler Reid, community engagement manager for the Boys & Girls Club, said the libraries built by Williams employees will help foster a sense of community and hope for the youth, their families and neighborhoods.
“For children who may not have many resources at home, free books from these libraries offer them a chance to dream, imagine and explore new ideas,” he said.
Kids Meals, Houston
In Houston, employees helped pack healthy lunches for Kids Meals, which provides free food for young children in need.
“We solely rely on the help of volunteers and it’s volunteers like Williams coming in and showing up every day that make sure we can deliver almost 14,000 lunches during the summer,” said Monique Saldana, volunteer manager for Kids Meals.
Employee Catherine Christen said it felt good to know she was helping battle childhood hunger. She looks forward each year to Williams Volunteer Week.
“I’m very grateful to work for a company like Williams that supports our employees and the causes that are important to us,” she said. “A bunch of us come together during Volunteer Week and we get to go out into the community and serve.”
Williams President and CEO Alan Armstrong said the week of giving back is truly a grassroots effort where individual employees work with community organizations to identify projects and recruit teams of volunteers.
“Each year, I’m proud to see how motivated our employees are as they lend a hand to the many nonprofits across our footprint that inspire change and improve lives,” he said.