Two Dot Foods’ employees, Patrick Middleton of Vidalia and Mike Coleman of Hazlehurst, recently completed more than 20 individual hours with local non-profits through Dot’s annual volunteer program, Teaming with Local Charities (TLC). In their honor, the Vidalia distribution center donated $800 to God’s Storehouse, a food and clothing bank in Vidalia.
The program, which launched in early 2011, connects Dot employees with volunteer opportunities and events with charities and non-profits in the area. When an employee reaches 20 volunteer hours, he or she can elect to take eight hours off with pay or ask Dot to donate a $400 grant to a charitable organization in his or her honor. Employees can work to a total of 60 hours throughout the year, with each 20 hour total permitting a paid day off or $400 grant.
“The goal of the TLC program is to give our employees an incentive to go out in the community and see where work and volunteers are needed most,” said Jennifer Evans, Dot’s Georgia HR Manager. “Both Patrick and Mike have described the impact and gratitude they have seen from their work and were gracious and self-less enough to decide to go even further and choose a donation rather than paid time off. We hope that other employees from our DC will follow their example and complete the TLC program.”
Middleton, a warehouse order selector,has clocked his required 20 hours for the program by volunteering at God’s Storehouse and the Salvation Army, separating and sorting through donated clothes, groceries and household items for both organizations. Within the first two weeks of the program’s launch, he had already completed his first 20 hours.
“I recognized that there were people with great need and by volunteering my time, I could help in some way,” noted Middleton.
Coleman, a transportation supervisor, spent a recent weekend at the end of August helping with the LPGA Futures Tour at Hawk’s Point Golf Club. During a three-day period, Coleman volunteered more than 30 hours by driving carts, carrying golfers’ bags and keeping score. “I’ve always been a golf enthusiast so this was an easy way for me to give my time and have fun while helping out,” said Coleman.