As part of National Volunteer Week, April 7-13, we’re highlighting OUC employees who donated a significant amount of their time through community volunteering last year.
Christina Hammock (back row, right) and her daughter Julia (front row, third from right) volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House.
Christina Hammock, a Document Control Specialist with seven years at OUC, started volunteering with her three kids to fulfill their school service hours, but it quickly grew into something more meaningful.
“All of us fell in love with helping people, and we turned volunteering into a regular family outing,” says Christina, now a mom of college students Gregory and Jordan, as well as 13-year-old Julia. “Giving back was an important bonding experience for us.”
Christina has continued the momentum, volunteering for nearly a dozen nonprofits and racking up over 200 hours annually. She works with a diverse array of organizations, from promoting civic engagement at the Junior League of Greater Orlando to improving global hygiene with Clean the World, which recycles soap from local hotels.
Christina’s daughter Julia is following in her mom’s footsteps. She serves as an ambassador for the Sunshine Foundation, which grants wishes to children coping with illness and abusive backgrounds. Together with her mom, Julia greets the wish recipients at the airport with signs and T-shirts to kick off their trips to Orlando with a warm welcome.
With a family focus on organizations that help children and families, Christina finds that her experiences often hit close to home. “We love interacting with the people benefiting from our efforts,” she says. “It keeps your life in perspective and makes you appreciate what you have – things that some people take for granted.”
Christina values the camaraderie and friendships she’s gained through her efforts – and she’s even inspiring her team at OUC, recently organizing an event with Ronald McDonald House.
“We had so much fun together, and it made me grateful for OUC’s support as an organization that cares about the community,” Christina says. OUC also makes a donation for every hour of community service its employees engage in, and employees can earn credit for gift cards and merchandise.
“It means a lot to know that OUC is amplifying the investment we’re making in our community,” she says. “Our team cares about each other and about making Central Florida a better place to live. I’m sticking with this for the long haul!”
