Before the pandemic, volunteering was a regular pastime for Sheerin Khan, associate product manager at Levi Strauss & Co. “I get the positive feeling of having made a difference by giving back to my community and it’s a fun change from my typical day-to-day routine,” she said.
With COVID-19 making traditional in-person volunteering more challenging, Sheerin has been finding more unique ways to stay involved, like picking up groceries for high-risk neighbors. And recently, she had a unique opportunity to volunteer with the Support Life Foundation in Oakland facilitating COVID-19 vaccinations for more than 500 residents. “It was a very rewarding feeling to be able to provide access to the vaccine to communities who would have otherwise had difficulty receiving it,” she said.
Sheerin is just one of many employees here at LS&Co. who have been getting creative to make sure that the pandemic doesn’t get in the way of making an impact. In honor of National Volunteer Month, LS&Co. employees like Sheerin are sharing their stories of how they’ve been inspired to continue giving back — supported by company benefits like paid time off to volunteer and volunteer rewards.
Another is Melissa Vorndran, assistant designer, who has started teaching art over Zoom to children with chronic illnesses and their siblings through CoachArt. “It’s been so great to be able to share skills and hobbies I’m passionate about with students who are eager to learn,” she said. “I’m looking forward to the time when I can meet them in person!”
She also makes sure to track her hours to earn donation rewards, which employees can donate back to the nonprofit of their choice. “A super helpful benefit has been receiving rewards for the hours I volunteer,” said Melissa. “It helps me either double up my support of the organization I work with or make a difference with another charity.”
Kimmie Odasz, an analyst on our Global Distribution & Logistics Operations team, had originally planned to volunteer on a farm, but when the pandemic derailed those plans, she pivoted to volunteer with the San Francisco Marin Food Bank.
“I chose this organization because I’m passionate about food and how it provides us with the energy we need to live — and has the ability to create connections among people,” she said.
We’re proud to support our employees as they donate their valuable time to help their communities, particularly during these challenging times.
