Holiday Collection Ideas

I am proud to say that Avnet employees are among the most generous people it has ever been my privilege to work with.  Our employees around the world open their hearts, wallets, pantries and closets to help others in need throughout the year but especially during the holiday season.  And, they do so totally on their own without any direction or input from corporate.  Amazing, really.  A true example of grass roots volunteerism.  They have proven that collecting items can be as simple as putting up a few signs and placing a few collection boxes in easy-to-see locations.

Last year nearly 450 employees at the Avnet facility in Tempe, Ariz., employees donated money or food items for two different food drives. First, TS collected enough food for the Boys and Girls Club to provide more than 300 Thanksgiving dinners, plus they filled an entire car with $500 worth of turkeys. All of the food collected barely fit into the small bus the Boys and Girls Club sent to pick up the items. The employees also collected an additional 1,500 pounds of food staples for Haven House, which serves victims of domestic abuse and their children, and a Chandler, Ariz., food bank.

After learning that Shepherds of Good Hope, an organization supported by Avnet’sOttawa branch for the last six years, receives many boxed and canned goods but little meat for the holidays, the office teamed with key supplier Actel to collect 400 pounds of pork, beef and chicken for Christmas.

In Denver, Colo., with temperatures dropping below zero, employees at our Westminster facility chose to help area homeless by donating winter clothing – including coats, long underwear, socks and hats – and blankets to the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless. Employees divided into two groups to see which could collect more items, with the winning group receiving doughnuts and orange juice one morning. A tradition for the past seven years, the drive was a big success.

On the other side of the world, employees of the Avnet facility in Tongeren, Belgium, collected more than 250 toys for the Centrum voor Kind en Gezinsondersteuning (CKG), a local shelter for children under age 12. Several employees accompanied “Santa” as he delivered the toys to the CKG.

Our Kansas City branch, always very active in community outreach, got into the holiday spirit by inviting suppliers attending its annual vendor holiday luncheon to bring new clothing for women and children, toys, small appliances and gift cards. Together they collected $2,500 worth of items for residents of SafeHome, a shelter for women and children who have been abused.

This year’s activities are well underway.  I can’t wait to see what kind of creative ideas these kind and generous employees have come up with for the current holiday season.  It is totally my pleasure to work with you guys.  Thanks for all you are doing in the Avnet communities.

And, for those who read about my grinchish ways last week, know that I will now attempt to get into the holiday spirit by going on home for the holidays.  So, as I take a break from blogging, I wish you all a safe, healthy and happy holiday season. See ya next year … Januray 9 to be specific.