About 67 volunteers, including OUC employees and their families, gathered to build more than 21,000 kits for distribution throughout OUC’s Empowerment Task Force Zone on June 22.
The volunteers assembled two types of kits: food kits and hygiene kits. More than 20,000 food kits containing red lentil jambalaya will be sent to the Christian Service Center’s Daily Bread for distribution. 1,000 care packages will be delivered to Operation New Hope, located in Orlando, Florida. These kits are packed with essential hygiene products, aim to assist individuals working towards stability and self-sufficiency. This initiative reflects OUC’s broader commitment to promoting community well-being and empowerment.
One of the volunteers was Elijah Norton, Residential Customer Service Team Supervisor. Norton expressed, “Volunteering gives me an opportunity to give back to the community. I know that there’s a lot of people in need—I’ve been in need myself—and I just appreciate people who take their time to serve the community and give back.”
Norton also shared that this was his first-time volunteering and described his experience as “fantastic.” He added, “No matter where you’re at in the company, even family members come out and want to be a part of this. Look across the table and you see people you’ve worked with and partnered with.”
Collectively, a total of 268 volunteer hours were contributed to the project.
U.S. Hunger is dedicated to addressing the root causes of food insecurity, striving to create a hunger-free world through collective efforts. To learn more about the organization, click here.
Operation New Hope provides support, life and job skills training for individuals who have a history of involvement in the criminal justice system. Programs guide participants toward employment and a sustainable quality of life. To learn more, visit Operation New Hope.
