INTUITIVE employees gathering food for the Downtown Rescue Mission’s Thanksgiving dinner.
By the third week of November, the lobby of Huntsville-based Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation is piled high with 1,200 boxes of macaroni and cheese, 1,200 boxes of stuffing, and 1,200 boxes of mashed potatoes. The firm’s 350 employees may get creative, stacking the boxes into the shape of a rocket or airplane, but this isn’t a project of engineering prowess. Almost as important to the company, it’s a community service project, representing INTUITIVE’s long tradition of giving back.
Once employees have donated enough boxes of grocery items and toiletries, a group will deliver them to the Downtown Rescue Mission, where the items will be assembled into boxes for lower-income families to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner. It’s one part of the company’s annual push to make a difference for the local community. Every November and December, most INTUITIVE employees spend some of their working hours giving back.
“Our employees want to give back to their community, but sometimes it’s difficult to make a difference on your own,” says Christine Schaefer, INTUITIVE’s intelligence, security and facilities officer. “It’s important for us to offer ways that we can all work together and allow employees opportunities to get involved during their work time.”
In addition to contributing to Thanksgiving boxes for the Downtown Rescue Mission, INTUITIVE employees also deliver Thanksgiving meals to the homes of elderly residents with the Care Assurance System for the Aging and Homebound (CASA) and deliver needed items to local animal shelters. In December, INTUITIVE employees deliver meals and provide gift cards to CASA clients and provide Christmas gifts to children in need through the Downtown Rescue Mission. Some employees also help adapt Christmas toys and electronics for use by children with special needs, in cooperation with the United Cerebral Palsy’s Technology Assistance for Special Consumers (TASC).
Involving Employees
INTUITIVE employees are already interested in giving back, but the variety of options for getting involved helps ensure that more will participate. “Employees can give money, bring in needed items, help deliver meals, or go with me to purchase items or deliver our donations,” Schaefer says. “There are plenty of ways to get involved, and it’s less stressful than finding a way to get involved on your own.”
While INTUITIVE focuses on helping children, seniors and homeless animals, organizers try to incorporate projects for charities that are meaningful to employees. For instance, one employee recommended TASC, and the company added the organization to its list of charities this year.
In addition, leaders motivate employees to get involved by holding contests among departments to see which group will donate the most items.
Reaping Benefits
Making the effort to organize community service projects—not just during the holidays, but year-round—ensures that INTUITIVE is a responsible corporate citizen, helping to build a stronger city. But those efforts also help create a stronger company, Schaefer says.
“Making a difference for the community you live in just feels good,” Schaefer says. “When we give back together, it makes our employees happy, which makes them want to stay here and keep contributing to our business. Giving back builds employee morale, helps everyone work together as a team and makes everybody here feel good. All those positive feelings drive a better business.”
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