NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 / The Clorox Company
By Nichelle Rachal, Assistant Director, Community Relations
Doing good and giving back are not just buzzwords for us, they are the core of who we are. We recently spoke with our Los Angeles-based teammate Renu Mevasse, who is helping to fight hunger in her community through her involvement with the local food bank.
How long have you been involved with the Westside Food Bank and what motivates you to continue volunteering there?
I have volunteered with the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District x Westside Food Bank for the past decade through the Weekend Bag Program and this year began volunteering directly with the Westside Food Bank.
I continue to volunteer there because I see the immediate impact the program has on the children and families in our community. During the school year, the SMMUSD x Westside Food Bank provides food to families every week, especially on the weekends to help fill in nutritional gaps. And during the summer, the food bank continues to support these families even when school is not in session.
What impact do you think the food bank’s efforts have had in the community and how do you feel about being part of this initiative?
Did you know that one in five children in America is food insecure? While nearly 30 million students in the U.S. receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year, millions of those same children go hungry during the summer break. In Los Angeles County, that’s the case for one in four households with children. The Westside Food Bank serves Los Angeles County, and I’m confident our collective efforts are helping in some way.
Can you tell us about an unforgettable experience from your volunteer work?
In June, I volunteered with other Clorox colleagues from LA to pack meal kits for children. School-provided meal programs are often the only consistent source of food for students, so summer is a critical time of food insecurity. We stepped away from our desks for a few hours and packed more than 250 meal kits. As a bonus, we got to know each other better in the process!
How has your experience on the Board of Trustees of the Clorox Company Foundation influenced your approach to community service?
I joined the Board of Trustees because I believe in the mission and in giving back to our communities, especially in smaller and more personal ways. Being involved in my community gives my life greater meaning and more balance. I also love being on the Board of Trustees because it gives me a greater appreciation for how each of us can give back.
How do you balance your volunteer work with your professional obligations?
I am very passionate about helping families (especially children) overcome food insecurity, but given my busy family life, I wanted a steady opportunity that I could sustain. The great thing about SMMUSD and the Westside Food Bank is that I can volunteer an hour a week by delivering food packages to the various schools on the weekend while I pick up my own children. Or I can take advantage of summer Fridays and volunteer for a half day with friends, family, or coworkers. The key to volunteering is to find something you are passionate about and then do one small action. Sometimes that’s all you have. But even that small action can have a huge impact on someone else’s life!
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Contact information:
Speaker: The Clorox Company
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E-mail: (email protected)
SOURCE:The Clorox Company
