Volunteerism Is a Holiday Tradition
‘Tis the season to give back to the community. Volunteerism is one of the best ways to express appreciation for what we have, and the gratitude of those who benefit from MPW employees’ volunteer service can be a far greater gift than anything in Santa’s sleigh.
“My parents raised me, but the community shaped me into who I am today,” said Real Estate Analyst Spencer Barker, who is volunteer president of the organization that supports the annual Christmas Lighting of the Licking County Courthouse on the Friday night after Thanksgiving. He took over the position in 2013 from his father who was board president for roughly 35 years.
“We do a lot of fundraising because it’s all community driven and paid for by the community,” Barker said. For some families it’s a tradition to come to Newark for the lighting of the courthouse and watch Santa arrive on a fire truck. “I design the courthouse every year,” Barker said. He and a board of nine members create the event. “The planning never really stops,” he said. Fundraising begins in September, but decorations are constantly being repaired and replaced.
Barker said MPW and the Black family have been a corporate sponsor for the last couple of years. “Kristen, Susan, Monte and Jimmy Peck have all been great in supporting the event,” he said. “Every organization out there is looking for time, talent and resources. Even if you can only give an hour, it benefits the community.”
Business Development Specialist Ashley Lewis agrees. She currently volunteers on the Board of Directors at the Woodlands, which among other services provides a domestic violence shelter in Newark called New Beginnings. It serves community women and men who are in emergency situations and need a place to find safety.
Lewis also serves on the event planning committee for LAPP (Licking County Alcoholism Program). This non-profit helps individuals all over Licking County battling drug and alcohol addiction issues. “My family has personally experienced the devastation of addiction, so being able to support this organization is so fulfilling,” she said.
“I’m extremely grateful for MPW’s VTO policy, which has allowed me to engage with our amazing community leaders without using personal vacation time,” said IS General Manager Jimmy Peck, whose volunteerism efforts include serving as the WJTA Board President, serving on the Licking County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and volunteering with the St. Francis schools.
“The power of giving back is huge. It is heartwarming to see so many of our wonderful employees take advantage of the VTO program to help the communities and organizations they love,” said Director, Community Engagement Kristen Black. “It’s absolutely been a win-win program.”
Through the VTO—Volunteer Time Off—program, all MPW full-time employees with one year of employment may use up to 16 hours of paid time off per year, in addition to an employee’s vacation and PTO time, to volunteer in their communities.
The MPW legal team and others, including Sean Hutcheson, Lizzie Lindgren, Amanda Butler, Catherine Jopling, Tami Kerns, Caitlyn Soliday, and Roseanna Ridgway devote their free time to Girls on the Run, an international non-profit dedicated to encouraging elementary aged girls to engage in physical activity while developing social and emotional learning skills through individual and team activities.
“As a life-long Licking County resident, giving back to the community is so special,” said Lewis. “I once heard, ‘If we take care of the community, it will take care of us.’ We all can do a little bit to make a big impact.”