By Kyle Kuphal (April 26, 2010)
On a recent Wednesday afternoon, a group of eight Pipestone System employees volunteered their time to call bingo and serve snacks to the folks at the Pipestone Senior Center.
They also gave the center $300 they raised selling cookies they baked themselves. The generosity is representative of a “Random Acts of Kindness” program kicked off in February by Pipestone System and the Pipestone Vet.
The idea was simple. “You do something for someone and expect nothing in return,” said Donna Hazelton, human resources director.
The organization gave $50 to each of the 43 offices and farm sites involved in the Pipestone System and Vet Clinic in the five state area — $2,150 in all. Teams were then challenged to come up with ways to multiply the money and help the largest number of people possible.
“They could use their imagination and do whatever they came up with,” said Peggy Beck, human resources coordinator.
Many teams simply donated the $50 to their local food shelf, while others found ways to generate more money such as finding other businesses to match their donations or holding bake sales or silent auctions. When the program came to an end last week, the teams had raised over $14,000.
“We were just amazed,” Hazelton said. “We started out with just this little idea.”
Some teams used the money to buy gift cards to help a family in need, some purchased flowers for senior citizens without families, and some bought pizzas for retirement home residents.
The Pipestone System Grow-Finish team made a donation to the Senior Center to help the center continue to provide afternoon activities for seniors in the wake of the recent budget cuts. The team members include Jenna Hauglid, Dan Nesvold, Terry Wolters, Michele Jones, Kim Morgan, Barry Kerkaert, Luke Russell, Hannah Walkes, and Erin McCoy.
Donna Straw, Senior Center director, said she had never heard of the program when she was approached by one of the team members and asked if they could come spend an afternoon with the seniors.
“That’s the great part of it,” Straw said. “It wasn’t anything we solicited, it was just offered to us.”
Hazelton said the organization is planning to bring the program back next year and will probably give the teams more time for their projects. Some teams enjoyed doing the “Random Acts” so much they are already planning what they’re going to do next year.
“It’s just something we want to do for the community,” Hauglid said. “It’s just a way of saying ‘thank you'." |