A company’s success isn’t measured by just production and profit margins.
Giving back to the community is an important value of Valeo North America, a vehicle lighting systems manufacturer in Seymour.
One year ago, striving to be good corporate citizens, the company started a new philanthropic initiative called Valeo Take 10. The program encourages employees to spend time lending a hand to others and getting more involved in philanthropic activities.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryEach month, up to 10 employees are allowed to leave work in order to complete community service hours together at different places throughout the county.
This month, a group of four volunteers spent the morning playing bingo with seniors at the Brownstown Senior Citizens Center. Bill Wheeler, Jose Vasquez, Missy Buckles and Summer Baker took turns calling numbers, helped seniors keep track of their cards and donated prizes.
Mona Wray said she and the other seniors appreciated the group taking the time to help out and socialize.
“It means a lot,” Wray said. “We like to talk and get to know people. It really brightens our day.”
The monthly service projects are organized by Baker and Bonita Dobbs with Jackson County United Way.
“She helps us find things that we can do,” Baker said.
Although Valeo Take 10 is about giving back, all four employees agreed they receive just as much in return by getting to know new people and making a positive difference in the community.
“The very first one we did, we went to the senior mobile food pantry out in Vallonia,” Baker said. “We did a learning trail out at Medora school. We went to SpringHill Camp and did weed eating, and we went to Head Start and helped install some playground equipment.”
They also spent Martin Luther King Jr. Day volunteering at Developmental Services Inc., where they interacted with adults with developmental disabilities.
“We do it, one, to get out in the community, but it also gives our employees a break,” Baker said. “We’ve had a very stressful past couple of years with the amount of work everyone is putting in because of all the growth Valeo is experiencing.”
Baker said the Valeo Take 10 program is employee-driven.
“They (Valeo) do surveys to see what is important to the employees, what they would like to see us do, and one of the thing’s everyone wanted to do was get out in the community,” Baker said.
For their service and focus on community, the company received the Volunteers of the Year award from Jackson County United Way during its annual meeting last month.
Wheeler, an optics technician, said playing bingo at the Brownstown Senior Citizens Center was his third time volunteering with Valeo Take 10.
“I think it’s just wonderful that Valeo allows us to do this,” Wheeler said. “It gives us a chance to give something back to the community, and I enjoy talking to people and sharing my story.”
No matter where he goes, Wheeler said they are always impressed that he has been with the company for 41 years.
Of his three outings, this month was his second time playing bingo.
“I’m getting close to retirement, so I’m just seeing what I have to look forward to,” he said.