This post originally appeared on the Vermont Gas blog.

The Vermont Gas CARE (Community Action & Rewarding Empowerment) program is all about bringing out employees together to support important community causes. Our work is about more than just corporate giving, it’s about engaging our team to get involved and give back.

Vermont Gas, for the second year, is a sponsor of the Spectrum Sleep Out at the silver level. The overnight event taking place this Thursday, March 23, to raise money to provide homeless and at-risk youth the services they need to build future success and independence. The CARE team wanted to engage our employees in joining the fundraising effort and they stepped up in a big way.

So, how can a pie help empower Vermont teenagers and young adults?

Last week, Vermont Gas employees celebrated National Pi Day (3.14) by hosting a pie fundraiser for Spectrum. Employees baked and bought 16 of the sweetest pies to raise money for the Sleep Out. In all, the pies raised $230. But our employees didn’t stop there.

Not only does March bring us Pi Day but it’s also March Madness—and we have some serious college hoops fan here so we raised another $340 for Spectrum in our annual company-wide NCAA March Madness Bracket Challenge. The winner receives bragging rights and an additional modest donation to the charity of their choice.

We’re fortunate to have jobs that afford us a safe and warm place to live and plenty of nourishing food–like our delicious pies–to eat, and we want that for all of our neighbors. So, the CARE team and our generous employees have come together, added a little fun and friendly competition, all to donate over $3,000 to support Spectrum.

The CARE Team helps guide where Vermont Gas donates its money and time and aligns Vermont Gas’ community giving and philanthropic efforts with the company’s vision and values. Next up is Green Up Day! Until then…

The post Pretty Sweet! Vermont Gas CAREs appeared first on Spectrum Youth & Family Services.

Callahan at the Empty Bowl Dinner

We are so grateful to Callahan Freeman, of Williston, VT who spent this past school year completing her 8^th Grade Challenge by helping our youth. From September through June, Callahan volunteered in our office, collected donations, helped out at the Empty Bowl Dinner, cooked meals for our Drop-In Center, and participated in the Student Sleep Out.

Callahan collected donations of art supplies and winter coats throughout the fall semester. Her idea to collect donations brought her whole community together. As she put it, “Most youth coming into [Drop-In] don’t have much. They usually can’t afford warm clothes. That’s why I asked my community to donate clothing.”

Callahan’s amazing coat drive for our youth!

Callahan said she learned a lot by collecting donations: “I was shocked by how many donations I received!” she told us. “I thought about all the people I was giving the coats to .  . . they were so thankful for everything. It feels really good to give back to my community and people in need.”

At the Empty Bowl Dinner, Callahan volunteered by setting up an arts and crafts table, and she also got a chance to hear from Kim, a young person who lived in our shelter and who told her story at the Empty Bowl. “[Kim] said that before Spectrum, she had nothing. Spectrum gave her the right things she need to succeed in her future. . . She thanked many people for helping her through her journey. It makes volunteering at Spectrum feel like I can help many people.” And that is exactly what Callahan did.

Twice, she cooked dinner for the youth who access our Drop-In Center. What was on the menu? Baked ziti, salad, chili, cornbread, and dessert. Callahan said, “I could see people’s faces light up when they saw the meals. Those looks made me happy. I had put effort into the meals, and seeing their faces made volunteering ten times better.”

Thanks for the delicious dinner, Callahan!

In March, Callahan recruited her classmates to participate with her in the Spectrum Sleep Out. In solidarity with our youth, Callahan raised funds and slept outside overnight with her team, the Williston Wildcats. You can be part of next year’s Sleep Out! Mark your calendars for March 23^rd, 2017, and email events@spectrumvt.org if you want to participate.

Reflecting on the past year working with our youth, Callahan said, “It is very inspiring to learn about kids and teens near my age, that live in my community, and how they work through their struggles. I have learned by doing little things to help, I can make a big difference for someone’s life in need.”

Callahan has made a big difference for our youth, and she learned a lot, too. In her words, “It felt good inside to change people’s lives.” Thank you, Callahan!

You can help our youth, too, by signing up for our volunteer list or by donating items on our wish list. When you donate today, you are making sure our youth get help to turn their lives around. Thank you!

The post Behind the scenes: One year as a volunteer appeared first on Spectrum Youth & Family Services.