As animal lovers, the staff of Windsor-Hartford, CT, Express office were drawn to a cause that would support the local pet community. Dwight Hahn, Katie Anderson, Gabrielle Pierce, and Shannon Mastrangelo were thrilled to learn about Windsor’s local nonprofit that collects pet food and distributes it to pet owners in the area who have difficulty purchasing food themselves. In addition to this, the nonprofit provides monetary assistance for pet care to local families in need. For the donation event, the Windsor-Hartford office set up a tent by the road for visibility. As an added benefit, they also had an employee who was a dog trainer answer questions as people in the community stopped by to donate money or pet products. While Hahn’s staff has participated in other charity events, such as Toys for Tots, they say the most impactful and heartwarming charitable cause that they have taken on, to date, is the support and donation drives held for the Friends of Windsor Animal Care and Control. We realize that life covers a lot of ground from food to gifts to animals and jobs. It’s all connected; and if we can contribute to any part of that circle, it’s going to help the entire circle. – Dwight Hahn, Windsor-Hartford, CT

Over the past few years, Mark Glahn and his offices have partnered with the local Boys & Girls Club for several activities, including an Express Employment Professionals Training program, which is an 8-week course on how to get, and keep, a job. The offices help equip kids for success by providing school supplies at the beginning of each school year. They raise money for the effort, and then Mark matches the amount at the end of the supply drive. The total monetary donation is usually around $1,000. During the holidays, the Lacrosse and Tomah, WI, Express offices donate pies for the annual Boys & Girls Club Thanksgiving Dinner and help serve them during the event. A few weeks later, the employees gather gifts at their Express internal holiday party and donate them to the club. Additionally, each Express location donates two gifts requested by children from the Boys & Girls Club. “Our goal is to help reduce the skills gap by helping kids better understand the expectations and needs of area employers. By helping our community and kids today, it helps instill a servant heart in future generations.” - Mark Glahn, La Crosse and Tomah, WI

"We didn’t want to limit Brand It Blue to just one day—we wanted it to be an experience!", Derek and Elizabeta Ilich, Ann Arbor MI When deciding which organization to donate their time to, Derek and Elizabeta Ilich selected one with meaning and a deep impact on the community. The Community Action Network (CAN) provides services and support for children who lack access to resources in the Ann Arbor, MI, area. The office kicked off their Brand It Blue experience with a food drive at the start of the summer camp season, as summer can be a difficult time for underserved children, many of who lose at least one meal per day. They continued their partnership with CAN for their YouthWorks program, a work readiness program for teens. The program offers interactive experiences to help teens explore various career fields, while developing employability skills, such as professionalism, accountability, and customer service. Two of the interactive experiences include a resume building workshop and mock interviews, both of which were led by Express Ann Arbor’s job experts. The YouthWorks program is especially important to us as it molds and shapes our future workforce. Express Ann Arbor continues to partner with CAN throughout the year for various other charitable opportunities. - Derek and Elizabeta Ilich, Ann Arbor MI