First Above: Emerging Leaders volunteering at Second Harvest Food Bank processed over 8,500 pounds of food. Second Above: Emerging Leaders volunteering at Martha’s Kitchen provided grocery prep and distribution.
United in service, over 100 AGC Emerging Leaders and Student Chapter members organized and participated in volunteer events or individual acts of service throughout April. To celebrate their achievements and highlight their hard work, we spoke with the mobilizers from leading member companies and learned of the impact their efforts had on individual communities. AGC members such as Blach Construction, Flatiron Construction, Griffith Company, and more banded together at nine events.
Orange County – Second Harvest Food Bank
In just three hours, approximately 25 volunteers from AGC member companies Bernards Bros and Flatiron Construction sorted through over 8,500 pounds of fruit and vegetables at this volunteer event. Second Harvest then distributed the food to their network of over 300 community partners, including local schools, food backs, churches, and individual households. Volunteer Pranasha Shrestha of Bernards Bros shared, “It was Incredible. So, 2,500 pounds of that was specifically apples. And then we sorted over 6,000 pounds of veggies, including cauliflower, cucumbers, limes, broccoli, squash, and a whole bunch of mixed items.”
San Jose – Martha’s Kitchen Grocery Prep and Distribution
Jake Gallau with Blach Construction organized the Martha’s Kitchen event. He noted that the skills he’d developed in his construction career translated well into the volunteer space, stating, “I think we’re kind of a natural fit for high urgency, manual labor type tasks. We know how to screen and produce a nice little production line and a logistical flow. We had a Superintendent out there and a Senior Project Manager, me as project manager, and then 3 project engineers.”
The volunteers had 30 minutes to process a quarter-mile long line of cars seeking food donations, with two hours beforehand to prep the groceries. Given that Blach Construction has a jobsite just up the road from Martha’s Kitchen, this was an easy event to fill!
Statewide – Shriners Children’s Hospital
The only volunteer option that allowed for statewide participation, this donation drive brought joy to countless children currently in Shriners Children’s Hospital’s care. Companies such as Blois Construction, Granite Rock, Imacorp, and others created cards for children filled with drawings, stickers, and well wishes.
Speaking on the impact of these cards, Michael Weagraff, Associate Director of Philanthropy Business & Foundation Giving at Shriners Hospital, shared, “The cards that you donate are for those who are here at the hospital for long periods of time. They’re those patients who have had a traumatic experience in their life, like a full-body burn or a bad car accident. They’re here recovering, so the fact that they can get a birthday card on their birthday and feel like a child reminds them that they are a child. It seems it’s a little thing for us, but for them, it’s a huge thing.”
AGC’s Emerging Leaders program exists to educate, connect and engage entry- to mid-level construction professionals so that together, we learn the industry, develop powerful networks, and build our communities. Partner with us as a sponsor to help expand our efforts, contact us at training@agc-ca.org to learn of current opportunities.
If you missed out on volunteer month, you could still give back by donating today! The Emerging Leaders program contributes year-round to organizations like Shriners Children’s Hospital. Contact Marjorie Nam at NamM@agc-ca.org to donate to the cause.
