Throughout the year, every year, Bison employees give back to the community both through programs sponsored by Bison, but also with other organizations that they support.
Last winter a little boy came through the line at The Gathering Place and asked if they had hot chocolate. The Gathering Place is a soup kitchen that provides over 27,000 hot, nourishing evening meals to those who are homeless, near-homeless, or otherwise food-insecure in Lincoln each year. The only drinks they had were water and coffee to have with meals. Kelly Bouwens, Product Specialist, was volunteering that day and talked with the staff about hot chocolate and they explained they only received a small amount from the Lincoln Food Bank and were no longer able to get anymore.
“Seeing the face on that little boy, I knew it was something small that I could help out with. If went the next day to Walmart and purchased hot chocolate, blankets, gloves and handwarmers,” Bouwens said.
When she heard what a big impact it made for all the guests, Bouwens talked with Nick Cusick, CEO, and Bison contributed even more to the organization. Bouwens is one of several Bison employees who serve meals at the Gathering Place. Other employees mentor students by participating either in TeamMates or Junior Achievement, and sometimes both.
Since 2015, Bison employees have taught in 76 Junior Achievement classrooms in the Lincoln area. With those 76 classrooms, 1,902 students have been impacted by our involvement. And spending time with 1,902 students equals 10,336 hours which equals 430.66 days.
Dale Sedlak, Production Manager, has mentored the same student through TeamMates for several years.
“It’s been great to watch him grow as a person,” Sedlak said.
Teresa Rathje says she enjoys working for Bison because of how invested Cusick and the company is in volunteering within the community.
“Giving back is something I have instilled in my kids and they both continue to give back to their own passions,” she said.
Bison employees also generously give to the community each year by participating in the annual United Way drive and are one of the top companies by employee participation rate.