66°
NORWALK, Conn. — To fulfill their service to the community, some businesses might send a financial contribution, but not Norwalk’s Pierson & Smith, a Division of First Niagara Risk Management, Inc. Employees at this local insurance company contribute their time, instead, said its regional director Fred Butler.
For the past seven years, workers have volunteered with the Manna House of Hospitality, an organization that serves food at the Norwalk Emergency Shelter.
“Anybody can throw money at a problem, but giving time is a much better investment,” said the Wilton resident.
On a given Monday each month, Butler and a few of his co-workers take time out of the workday to set up and serve lunch. The team doesn't just prepare the meal, though. They also usually supply some of it themselves, he said.
If Manna House wants to serve its patrons pork and vegetables, for example, the volunteers might stop at Costco to pick up the items before lunchtime. And they help all year round, not just around the holiday season, when many people tend to contribute to those less fortunate.
“People there today are greater in number than they have been, and they come from all walks of life,” Butler said. “A lot of those people were qualified professionals with good jobs who have found themselves on the other side of the coin.”
However, Butler said the company's contribution to the Manna House of Hospitality is no greater than others who log volunteer hours in the community.
“It’s just the right thing to do,” he said.
To find out more about the Norwalk Emergency Shelter, click here.
Comments