“Give a person a fish, and you feed them for a day; teach a person to fish, and you feed them for a lifetime.”
If there was a way to sum up the evolution of MCM Troy’s community impact initiatives, it would be that line. The company has always been an active participant in local communities, working tirelessly with organizations such as Gleaner’s Community Food Bank and Forgotten Harvest to address the challenges of food insecurity. MCM Volunteers have even partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build houses for the homeless. Now in the post-COVID era, MCM Troy has widened its net toward supporting families.
This family-centric approach aligns perfectly with MCM’s third corporate social responsibility pillar: Developing resilient and sustainable communities by supporting the most critical needs in the places where we live and work. The team at Troy works diligently with organizations that help households balance their financial obligations without having to choose between paying bills and providing food for their families.
One standout initiative by MCM Troy is its collaboration with Keep Growing Detroit, an organization that promotes urban farming. By planting trees and growing fruits and vegetables, volunteers not only provide immediate relief to those in need but also teach community members how to grow their own food, bringing sustainability into their homes. This helps families focus on achieving financial freedom. MCM volunteers also work with organizations that provide children with food items for weekends and summer breaks; and in winters, they organize warm clothes and toy donation drives during the holiday season.
The enthusiasm and readiness of MCM Troy’s volunteers have left a lasting impression on those they serve. Their empathetic approach, born from the understanding that anyone can face financial challenges, sets them apart. One of the most passionate volunteers, Mary B., Manager, Process Excellence, shared her personal experience, “I grew up in a family that’s like those served by MCM volunteers. Participating in community empowerment activities is my way of paying forward the help my family received.”
At MCM Troy, the spirit of volunteering extends beyond organized community impact initiatives, with many colleagues choosing to volunteer in their personal time and leveraging MCM’s paid volunteer time off benefit. Whether it’s participating in their children’s school parent-teacher association or serving as a local volunteer in the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the MCM Troy team embodies the essence of giving back to the community. The site actively seeks partnerships and has made contributions to the Neighborhood House, an organization committed to fostering resilient and self-sustaining communities, especially during challenging times.
Notably, volunteering at MCM fosters team building and offers a fresh perspective on life. Employees get to work with colleagues from different departments at these sites, fostering a sense of camaraderie that extends into the office environment.
Through their dedicated service and sustainable impact, volunteers at MCM Troy continue to serve as a catalyst for change in their community. They also embody MCM’s Mission to create pathways to economic freedom for individuals and households.