HP, Inc. Makes Major Donation to Community Food Pantry
By Patricia Hudson, Cy-Fair Helping Hands
A generous team of HP employees recently leveraged a creative project into a community outreach opportunity for the Cy-Fair area through Cy-Fair Helping Hands, a local nonprofit dedicated to serving those experiencing food insecurity in Northwest Harris County. As Cy-Fair Helping Hands has seen a staggering number of families in need over recent months, the donation came at an opportune time to help meet the needs of families who are currently experiencing hardship.
“Struggling to pay the bills, keeping their families housed, with clothing on their backs and food on their family tables, the number of people seeking assistance from the Cy-Fair Helping Hands food pantry has increased at an alarming rate. Especially disconcerting is that as a result of the uncertain economy, donations of funds and food have decreased. As a ministry, we turn to our faith,” shares Patricia Hudson, Director of Community Outreach.
Michael Pelham, together with his wife Danielle and son Nicholas volunteer through Bayou City Fellowship Church on the third Saturday of each month. With a firsthand look at the rising numbers being served, Michael looked to his company, HP, Inc., for help. A basic food drive wouldn’t resonate with employees, thought Michael. Then he heard about a company that had held a competition, challenging its employees to build structures using canned goods and other nonperishable items. Their “structures” were then donated to a food pantry. Pelham pitched the idea to Suzanne Metivier, HP, Inc., Executive & Employee Engagement Manager, who loved the idea and immediately gave her approval.
“HP employees were enthusiastic and delighted to offer their assistance when they learned about the need. The Canned Food Construction project provided an excellent opportunity to connect our engineering culture with HP’s strong commitment to giving back to our community,” comments Metivier.
Over 100 employees chose to participate in the canned food construction competition benefitting Cy-Fair Helping Hands. Divided into eight teams, their final projects were judged and winners announced.
A convoy of vehicles delivered over 4,000 canned goods and boxes of nonperishable food to the Cy-Fair Helping Hands’ warehouse. The mood was euphoric as HP, Inc. employees unloaded pallet after pallet of food.
“The guys were so excited to learn how much we had donated. After weighing everything, we were pleased to learn that that HP had collected a total of 5,006 pounds of food for families in need in Cy-Fair! We learned a lot in the process and are already strategizing on what HP can do to make this bigger and better next year,” concludes Pelham.
As a volunteer-driven organization, Cy-Fair Helping Hands is funded by donations from caring individuals, businesses, churches and organizations. To learn more about the programs for the homeless and hungry, and to become a community partner, go to www.cyfairhelpinghands.org and info@cyfairhelpinghands.org.
Source: CFHH
