While being best for the world is part of DTE’s mission all year long, every August DTE leans in even more through volunteerism by giving back to the communities where the company’s employees live and serve.
During this year’s Month of Caring, team members partnered with their coworkers and community partners to make a difference across Wayne County and all of Michigan. From pitching in at food pantries and cleaning up parks, to skilled tradespeople putting their talents to use, more than 800 volunteers spent nearly 5,000 hours doing their part for their communities.
Here are just some of the ways DTE teams made a difference this Month of Caring:
- Gleaners Food Distribution: Team members packed food to be shared with food pantries around metro Detroit, helping friends and neighbors throughout Wayne County.
- The Farm at Trinity Health: Volunteers came together to harvest fresh vegetables for community-supported agriculture boxes sold to local neighbors and distributed to food insecure people throughout Washtenaw County and beyond. The team also packed produce and arranged farm-grown flowers to be distributed to patients at local medical facilities in Ann Arbor.
- Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit Donation: The team came together to donate and deliver hand sanitizer to help people stay safe and healthy while caring for animals at this shelter.
- Belle Isle Cleanup: Several dozen participants helped beautify Belle Isle Beach and the surrounding area so people can continue to enjoy this Detroit treasure.
- St. Vincent DePaul Distribution: Volunteers teamed up to help out St. Stephens and St. Vincent DePaul to provide food for those in need in Detroit.
- Forgotten Harvest Food Packing: DTE team members pitched in to pack and sort nutritious foods at this Oakland County warehouse so those in need in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties won’t go hungry.
Efforts like those during Month of Caring – and all year long – help keep these invaluable community services running, and the work done by the DTE team makes a big difference.
“We’ve had DTE helping out for many years,” said Loren Sanders, operations coordinator for The Farm at Trinity Health. “Large groups like this are instrumental, and the fact that DTE reaches out to us speaks volumes.”
Volunteering makes a difference for those who spend their time and effort giving back, too.
“Growing up, I had so many passionate volunteers in my life,” said Julia Mlinarevic, DTE staff engineer who volunteered at a Month of Caring event. “I love having the opportunity to give back. We need volunteers to make things happen and it’s great to be a part of it.”
While DTE’s Care Force is in action all the time, the Month of Caring was a great reminder for just what leading with caring can do.
“Month of Caring sparked a conversation on the team,” said Chris Lamphear, DTE manager in Corporate Communications. “It’s great to put a spotlight on caring, and I’m proud to work for a company that encourages us to devote time and energy towards worthy causes.”