ProAg Cares Helps Local Communities and Those in Need
Last year, ProAg Cares, a program that impacts our local communities and industry, supported many communities in need where we live and work. Here are a few of the ways ProAg employees made a difference!
On three occasions, Shelly Harrison volunteered at Snack Pak 4 Kids in Amarillo, Texas. This organization provides weekend backpacks filled with food for children in food-insecure situations. Kids can’t learn when they are hungry. Snack Pack 4 Kids strives to ensure that children who rely on school lunches have food on the weekends. Over the three days Shelly volunteered, they collectively packed 27,000 snack packs.
Dawson Schafersman volunteered for the national high school rodeo in Lincoln, Nebraska. He helped direct traffic, so people with pickups and trailers knew where to park.
Cheree Richins volunteers as fair board secretary for her local county fair, supporting as they bring the community together every year. Kids involved in 4-H get to show their animals and items they have worked on throughout the year. During the fair, she helped check in items at the fair buildings and kept track of the winners. Cheree also helps with the 4-H animals and programs throughout the year. The fair and the 4-H program help raise the next generation in the agricultural community.
Dee Dee Barbee volunteered to help pack backpacks before the start of the school season for the local NOW (Nutrition on Weekends) program. Students get to shop with a volunteer guide and pick what they want. They are so excited to get brand new things as they start the school year. This organization not only sponsors backpacks filled with school supplies and necessities for each child such as clothing, personal hygiene, new shoes and dental checkups at no cost, but they also provide meals for students who may not have food to eat on the weekends. They do this weekly during the school year and now have started providing food during the summer months.
Eric Hansen volunteers at his local rodeo association that puts on the annual Father’s Day rodeo. He helps set up and then sells concessions.
Richard Stinson divided his time. He cooked a meal at the Hermosa Senior Citizens Center, where he serves on the board of directors (BOD). The second half-day was spent at a BOD meeting, helping with strategy when they needed it the most.
Diane Fishburn volunteered with her kids at a Harvesters food distribution in their rural community. They helped unload the truck and sort different fresh produce into boxes so each family could receive a variety of food for the month.
Drew Hatmaker volunteered at Central Baptist Church, Paris, Kentucky, assisting with their annual Christmas toy store. The store provides an opportunity for families to come and shop for their young children. Their church works all year to raise funds and gather toys for this event. In 2021 they were able to ensure over one hundred families had something special under the tree. It’s great to do something extra for those in need in our community especially around the holidays.
Garrett Dorsten helped with Zuma Days, a fundraising event which supports a local park that he enjoys with his family. This event is a small version of a county fair. It is put on each year to help raise money for Zuma Park to help pay for things like playground equipment, maintenance and mowing.
Missy Waters volunteered at a breast cancer awareness luncheon and auction at the Pinellas County Mammography Voucher Program sponsored by Island Estates Women’s Club. They helped to raise $9622.03 for the voucher program that provides mammograms for women in need.
Tim Rostad volunteers monthly for Ruby’s Pantry, an organization sponsored by his church. He helps load a full semi-truck of food and set up for an evening event where food is distributed.
Victoria Wang worked as a gallery host at a local art center. The gallery host keeps watch over the art center as artists pick up and drop off their art in the gallery. They also answer calls and handle art purchases. She picked the Maple Grove Arts Center because she enjoys supporting local artists.
Dan Bauer volunteered at Cross of Hope Lutheran church. He collected and dropped off food items for various charities, delivered ink for the Ink for Bucks program, and loaded and unloaded sand for a preschool playground.
Stephanie Gossard conducted two training sessions for her church’s national disability ministry, encouraging churches to support kids with disabilities in Sunday school. One presentation was at a national minister’s conference and the other for a class of students in seminary.
Aaron Janes spent his time off at the Community Blood Center donating blood. Aaron said, “Several years ago, I found out I have a “universal blood type” (O negative) that can be shared with anyone. Since then, I’ve tried to donate blood regularly.” Blood is delivered to hospitals and given to patients who have traumatic injuries and those who are in childbirth or cancer treatment.
About the ProAg Cares Program
- ProAg Takes Care of Their Own: Aimed at employees impacted by natural disasters or a difficult family situation
- ProAg Cares About Our Communities: One day of volunteer time off for individual volunteer efforts. Also, an opportunity to expand team development / building options.
- ProAg Cares About Our Industry: Aimed at supporting advocacy organizations such as AACI or Farm Rescue and educational opportunities about crop insurance and the role agriculture plays in the economy.