JRA’s community service provides opportunities for employees to participate in projects throughout the year, providing charitable organizations with much needed support through hands-on volunteering, while also building team camaraderie. Below are some highlights of how we are giving back:
Community Service
September 2017 – Giving the Basics
Giving the Basics is an organization that provides personal care products, not covered by government assistance programs, to those in need. Giving the Basics distributes to more than 65 pantry locations and 186 schools in 14 plus school districts, making the basics accessible to 220,000 people monthly. The JRA Team held a drive September 25th – October 13th to collect personal care products for our community. We then helped sort items that were donated at their facility. Please contact Giving the Basics if you’d like more information – www.givingthebasics.org
November 2017 – Harvesters and Coat Drive
This year, JRA, MFEC and Yaeger teamed up and had a competition to see who could collect the most food for Harvesters. MFEC came in first place with 385 pounds of food, JRA was 2nd with 366 pounds and Yaeger collected 233 pounds. Collectively, we provided just under 1,000 pounds of food which is hundreds of meals for those in need. JRA also donated $1,125.00 which equals 3,375 meals for our community. JRA, MFEC & Yaeger also collected coats for the One Coat Drive. JRA turned in 39 coats and MFEC & Yaeger collected 6 bags full of coats. It was a very fun and successful drive! All three teams celebrated with a happy hour at Local Tap.
December 2016 – Harvesters
The JRA Team held a food drive for Havesters in December. We collected 268 pounds of food and $1,000, which equaled 3,223 meals for our community. Thank you to Jennifer Hendrickson for organizing the Harvester Food Drive.
April 2014 – Harvesters
The JRA team participated in Harvester’s “Take Your Can to Work Day!” With everyone’s efforts, we collected enough food to provide 84 pounds of food which equals 70 meals for those in need in our community. Some of our customers also helped us collect cans by bringing a can with them to our Greenheck Mobile Learning Center Open House on Thursday, April 10, 2014. Thank you for everyone’s participation.
April 2014 – Manhattan Emergency Shelter
The JRA team held an Open House in Manhattan, KS on Wednesday, April 9th for engineers, contractors and students. We ended up with extra box lunches that we were able to donate to the Manhattan Emergency Shelter.
January 2014 – Harvesters
The JRA team volunteered their time at Harvesters by sorting and boxing donated items into inventory on January 30, 2014. The team also donated 114 lbs. of food equaling 88 meals for those in need.
November 2013 – Harvesters
The JRA Team and customers donated to Harvesters and made a big difference. We were able to donate the following:
Food donations = 405 lbs. equaling 312 meals
Money donations = 700 meals
Equals a grand total of 1,012 meals!
July 2013 – Ronald McDonald House
The JRA Team was fortunate enough to be able to help out the Ronald McDonald house and cook lunch for families staying there. We had 2 large groups – one group cooked lunch for families staying at the Longfellow House and one group cooked for the Family Room at Children’s Mercy Hospital. An amazing experience was had by all and we met some wonderful people.
In 2013 JRA also donated to the following organizations:
- American Heart Association
- Topeka C.A.D.I.T.
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- ASHRAE Research in Kansas City and Wichita
- KSU ASHRAE
- KU Endowment-Treads and Threads
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
- March of Dimes
- Hope House
- Variety, The Children’s Charity-Travis Price Classic
At JRA we are very fortunate to be able to give back to the communities where we work and live.