Serv-A-Yard, a local Sarnia business, recently turned giving back to the community into a workplace-wide competition, collecting an impressive 934 canned and non-perishable food items in just one week for the Inn of the Good Shepherd. Organized by Katie Ayrheart, Customer Service & Installations Office Administrator, the initiative split employees into three teams to see who could donate the most goods from November 4 to November 11.
The stakes were high and the rules simple: the losing teams faced the possibility of getting a whipped cream pie in the face—delivered by a member of the winning team. “I thought it would help get more donations in, as few people want a pie of whipped cream in their face,” Ayrheart explained.
Ultimately, the Projects/Office Crew claimed victory, motivated by their shared determination to avoid the messy consequence. “A lot of people on the Projects/Office Crew were not wanting to get pied in the face, which gave a bit more encouragement to not lose,” Ayrheart said, adding that the friendly competition brought everyone together and kept spirits high.
"It was a fun event and everyone was a great sport about it," she said. "We are a local business, and our community means a lot to us, so being able to give back to those in need means the world."
On November 13, Serv-A-Yard staff delivered their collection to the Inn of the Good Shepherd, a vital resource in Sarnia for families and individuals facing food insecurity. Ayrheart hopes the initiative inspires other businesses in the area to organize similar competitions and contribute to local food banks.
“We would love to see other businesses in the Sarnia area start their own food drive competition within their employees and get as many donations as we can to those in need.”
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