Concorde News

Summer: A Perfect Time to Give Back

Concorde Staff

Concorde Staff

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Updated June 20, 2016. The information contained in this blog is current and accurate as of this date.
community based

At the beginning of 2016, Concorde Career Colleges, Inc. introduced Concorde Community Time, a community-based initiative that allows full-time and part-time associates of Concorde to take up to eight hours of paid work time at any time during the year and using it to volunteer at the community organization of their choice.

Now that summertime is here, and folks are getting outside and active, the time is ripe to put that initiative to work and start living up to the company's "Community Based" pillar.

"Summer is here, and there is no better time to get out and invest your Concorde Community Time," said Martin Riggs, Concorde's Vice President, Human Resources. "The warm weather provides some unique volunteer opportunities."

Community-based gardening

For instance, many community gardens are always looking for people who have a passion for gardening, or just the desire to get out and dig in the dirt. Recently, a Concorde associate invested their Community Time in a community garden that was part of a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

"Not only did the proceeds of the sale of the vegetables assist the program, but WIC families were able to get free, healthy fruits and vegetables that might not have otherwise been available," Riggs said. "To find these opportunities, contact your local parks and recreation department for details."

Keeping school kids fed

While schools are out for the summer, the need for meals for children who count on school lunch programs continues. This creates a community-based opportunity for volunteers to prepare and service meals in the school cafeterias or in conjunction with local food banks.

"In some communities, this need is filled by backpack programs," Riggs said. "Volunteers fill backpacks with food that is distributed to children in need through the school districts."

Riggs added that, typically, these community-based programs are managed by local food banks or churches.

Gone camping

For more adventurous volunteers, summer provides opportunities for Concorde associates to go camping. Many associates are investing their Community Time by being a leader and taking a group of kids to camp. No matter if it's the Adventure Guides, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts or church youth group, volunteering as a camp leader can be as rewarding an experience for the leader as it is for the camper. You get the opportunity to share your arts and crafts skills in a community-based setting, as well as share some of your experiences with a group of campers.

"There are many ways to invest your Community Time that are unique to summer," Riggs said. "Take the opportunity to invest in your community!"

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