VOLUNTEERISM to volunteer during business hours. They When asked how it feels to help out, packed boxes, never seeing the people who Dixie B said, "I don't know how to an- swer that. It's just a part of you, always helping people. My goal is to make received them. For millennia, people have asked a universal question. "What "They're our neighbors," observed Light- people smile." is my responsibility to my fellow humans?" Maybe it's as sim- ple as the word itself: response-ability, the ability to respond. holder. "It doesn't matter whether they are an immediate neighbor. We benefitted the community, not one individual." During the pandemic, people needed access to food. Four Washington county heroes answered that callI. They prefer to be called volunteers, but they are heroes nonetheless. They had the ability to respond, and they did, and along the way discovered unexpected benefits at the Greater Washington County Food Bank. Lightholder could generalize. "Having an immediate impact on the commu- nity was rewarding for me. There are Stein took it more personally. "Every time I few better feelings than giving back." packed a box, I thought about the family I He saw it as a cycle of life. "For me, it couldn't see. I wondered who would get it.I completes the cycle we make our liv- ing here, support our families here, the community supports us. When we sup- Helping others often brings unexpected port the community, it completes the knew it was a local family in need." CNX's Blake Lightholder saw the need. "I knew the numbers. When the demand went up, the need for volunteers went up. We tried to go where we could make the biggest impact." benefits. cycle of good will." Like the others, he recommends the ex- perience. "I encourage anyone to try it, and see how giving is making an impact." Melissa Stein of Stein Wealth Advisors understood. "It upsets me- we're a prosperous country and some people don't have enough food. Many people are surprised to know how many Americans struggle providing healthy food for their families," she said. "It's our duty in each of our communities to ensure our children and families have access to wholesome, healthy food." "Banding together for a few hours, outside of the office was great. We didn't all know each other, but after thirty minutes we worked the assembly line like a well-oiled machine. It became fun and therapeutic," said Lightholder. "For us, it was a really great team building experience. I wish everyone could experience it and enjoy the camara- take responsibility. Harmon went home and told his wife they should make sure their children grow up in an atmosphere of service to others, so the next generation will also Individuals and corporations stepped up, providing the hun- derie and satisfaction." dreds of volunteer hours needed to get the food out. Harmon agreed. "The nice thing was the face- Stein took it one step further. "It makes to-face interaction. It was very rewarding." me ask 'How can I help more?" "A lot of hands touched this food to get it to families," EQT Engineer Chris Harmon realized when he volunteered. In true engineer fashion, he precisely described the assembly line process - "Fold a box, then send it down the line, drop in two cans of beans, one rice, one cereal and send it on." For Dixie B, it's simple. "I like helping The Food Bank needs corporate volunteers, people. I go where God leads me, to do but its life blood are individuals who have been with the GWCFB for years. Retired postal worker Dixie B (she's shy about using There are many ways to volunteer: The her last name) does it all - sells at the farm- ers market, sorts clothing at the thrift store, ter. Are you inspired? Do you have the packs boxes, and loves getting her hands ability to respond? Go to dirty. what He wants me to do." FARM, the thrift store, the training cen- "It's eye opening," he added, "seeing how much work goes into getting one box of food to a family, and then it might not last very long." foodhelpers.org/volunteer Lightholder took away an important realization. "The Food Bank couldn't do this job without us showing up. It was enough for us to see, to help." "I guess it goes back to my Grandmother. That's what we did. She said 'service' is our middle name." Harmon, Lightholder and Stein participated in a Food Bank engagement day, where local businesses send employees EQT employees sorted recyclables during a Food Helpers Earth Day event, Sponsored content brought to you by The Dr. Malcolm Ruben and Dr. Jerold Ruben Fund of the Washington County Community Foundation Stein Wealth employees packing food boxes for families in need. CNX employees volunteered at the GWCFB many times during the pandemic. VOLUNTEERISM to volunteer during business hours. They When asked how it feels to help out, packed boxes, never seeing the people who Dixie B said, "I don't know how to an- swer that. It's just a part of you, always helping people. My goal is to make received them. For millennia, people have asked a universal question. "What "They're our neighbors," observed Light- people smile." is my responsibility to my fellow humans?" Maybe it's as sim- ple as the word itself: response-ability, the ability to respond. holder. "It doesn't matter whether they are an immediate neighbor. We benefitted the community, not one individual." During the pandemic, people needed access to food. Four Washington county heroes answered that callI. They prefer to be called volunteers, but they are heroes nonetheless. They had the ability to respond, and they did, and along the way discovered unexpected benefits at the Greater Washington County Food Bank. Lightholder could generalize. "Having an immediate impact on the commu- nity was rewarding for me. There are Stein took it more personally. "Every time I few better feelings than giving back." packed a box, I thought about the family I He saw it as a cycle of life. "For me, it couldn't see. I wondered who would get it.I completes the cycle we make our liv- ing here, support our families here, the community supports us. When we sup- Helping others often brings unexpected port the community, it completes the knew it was a local family in need." CNX's Blake Lightholder saw the need. "I knew the numbers. When the demand went up, the need for volunteers went up. We tried to go where we could make the biggest impact." benefits. cycle of good will." Like the others, he recommends the ex- perience. "I encourage anyone to try it, and see how giving is making an impact." Melissa Stein of Stein Wealth Advisors understood. "It upsets me- we're a prosperous country and some people don't have enough food. Many people are surprised to know how many Americans struggle providing healthy food for their families," she said. "It's our duty in each of our communities to ensure our children and families have access to wholesome, healthy food." "Banding together for a few hours, outside of the office was great. We didn't all know each other, but after thirty minutes we worked the assembly line like a well-oiled machine. It became fun and therapeutic," said Lightholder. "For us, it was a really great team building experience. I wish everyone could experience it and enjoy the camara- take responsibility. Harmon went home and told his wife they should make sure their children grow up in an atmosphere of service to others, so the next generation will also Individuals and corporations stepped up, providing the hun- derie and satisfaction." dreds of volunteer hours needed to get the food out. Harmon agreed. "The nice thing was the face- Stein took it one step further. "It makes to-face interaction. It was very rewarding." me ask 'How can I help more?" "A lot of hands touched this food to get it to families," EQT Engineer Chris Harmon realized when he volunteered. In true engineer fashion, he precisely described the assembly line process - "Fold a box, then send it down the line, drop in two cans of beans, one rice, one cereal and send it on." For Dixie B, it's simple. "I like helping The Food Bank needs corporate volunteers, people. I go where God leads me, to do but its life blood are individuals who have been with the GWCFB for years. Retired postal worker Dixie B (she's shy about using There are many ways to volunteer: The her last name) does it all - sells at the farm- ers market, sorts clothing at the thrift store, ter. Are you inspired? Do you have the packs boxes, and loves getting her hands ability to respond? Go to dirty. what He wants me to do." FARM, the thrift store, the training cen- "It's eye opening," he added, "seeing how much work goes into getting one box of food to a family, and then it might not last very long." foodhelpers.org/volunteer Lightholder took away an important realization. "The Food Bank couldn't do this job without us showing up. It was enough for us to see, to help." "I guess it goes back to my Grandmother. That's what we did. She said 'service' is our middle name." Harmon, Lightholder and Stein participated in a Food Bank engagement day, where local businesses send employees EQT employees sorted recyclables during a Food Helpers Earth Day event, Sponsored content brought to you by The Dr. Malcolm Ruben and Dr. Jerold Ruben Fund of the Washington County Community Foundation Stein Wealth employees packing food boxes for families in need. CNX employees volunteered at the GWCFB many times during the pandemic.