The St. John's County Education Foundation has named the plant “business partner of the year.” The non-profit organization will present the award at a ceremony on June 9.
“Our work with the Advanced Reading Cafe and continued strong support of the Tools for Schools supply drive were determining factors,” says Carrie Gainor, who coordinates many of the plant’s community involvement projects. “We should all be very proud of our team for this accomplishment.”
Employees volunteer for the Advanced Reading Cafe at a local elementary school. The students agree to read a certain number of books per month, then the monthly cafe events include food, bingo, face-painting and other fun activities for the kids.
The Tools for Schools is a drive organized by the local school district to gather much-needed supplies, such as notebooks, pens, sandwich bags, anti-bacterial spray and dozens of other necessities.
“We made it a competition between departments,” Gainor says of the Tools for Schools drive. “That made it really fun.”
The St. Augustine employees are involved in many other community efforts, including:
- Casual Friday: Employees can “dress down” and make a cash donation for a good cause.
- Food drive: Canned goods and other edibles are gathered for the needy.
- Blood drive: The local “bloodmobile” drives up in front of the plant three times a year.
- Haiti earthquake: Fundraiser to benefit victims.
“It’s all about giving back to the community,” Gainor says, “especially for the children. They are one of our greatest resources.”
