How the AgencyBloc Team Used Their VTO in 2020

Volunteer Time Off, or VTO, is an opportunity for our team members to give back to the causes, organizations, and groups we believe in. Each year, every AgencyBloc team member is given 8 hours of VTO time.

2020 presented many challenges, but one thing that didn't change was that there are many amazing groups out there doing good work to help others in their community. Although our VTO time looked a little different this year, a few of our team members were still able to get out, put their masks on, and give back. Scroll down to see how we used our VTO time to give back in 2020.

Carolina Children's Charity

Before quarantine began, Brittany, one of AgencyBloc's Client Support Specialists, spent a day in March volunteering for Carolina Children's Charity. She helped out with a grand telethon that raises money for children born with birth defects and various childhood diseases.

The cause: Founded in October 1987, Carolina Children's Charity was created by local volunteers committed to meeting the needs of local children with birth defects and/or childhood diseases. These range from asthma to cerebral palsy, from juvenile diabetes to cancer, and many more in between. Since its inception, the Charity has provided assistance to thousands of Lowcountry children with birth defects or other disabling diseases in services totaling more than $4.1 million.

Learn more about the Carolina Children's Charity by visiting their website. 

DMARC

Product Patty (she's part of the QA team) got out with her grandson to help DMARC give back during their Free Produce Giveaway event. DMARC partnered with other local groups in Des Moines, Iowa, to provide fresh and local produce to those in need. Patty helped load and distribute lots of food to help out thousands of Iowans. 

The cause: With important programs to feed, assist and nurture the needs of Greater Des Moines, the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) works with over 125 member congregations from five different faith traditions. Their mission is: Working together to meet basic human needs for the greater Des Moines community.

Learn more about DMARC by visiting their website. 

Eat Greater Des Moines: Operation Fresh Produce Drop

Also lending a hand in June, Allison from the marketing team got out in the sun to distribute fresh and local produce. This particular "operation" was a coalition put together by various Des Moines nonprofit groups to help bridge the gap in food insecurity during times of crisis (i.e., COVID-19). Allison flexed her muscles to help move over 40,000 pounds of produce and dairy products and distribute them to daycares, religious groups, and other nonprofit groups focused on helping those in need.

The cause: Eat Greater Des Moines (EGDM) is a central Iowa-based nonprofit organization that facilitates and builds connections to strengthen the area’s food system. Their mission is to unite the community in providing access to quality food for all. "We build communities through food."

Learn more about Eat Greater DSM by visiting their website. 

Family Homestead

Sara from our Onboarding team bundled up and braved the chilly December air in Colorado to give back to one of her favorite charities. She and her husband worked tirelessly to organize and prepare donations to be given out to families in need. Sara loves spending time volunteering with this amazing organization because it really shows the beauty in the world and how we can all come together in a time of need, a time of crisis, and still be a community. 

The cause: The vision of Family Homestead is to assist homeless families to overcome the specific crisis of homelessness and re-stabilize at a level of functioning optimal for them. Through their work, 75% of families who complete their program move to the next step of housing, obtain adequate income to support next step housing, and effectively address the underlying causes that led them to their homelessness. 

Learn more about Family Homestead by visiting their website. 

What’s in Store for 2021?

These are just a few examples of how our team gave back this year. Follow our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn feeds to see what our team is doing and how we’re spending our VTO throughout the year. Then, check back at the end of the year to see our wrap-up blog to get the lowdown on all of the fun!

Posted by Allison Babberl on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 in About Us