At Itential, we put just as much effort into our culture and community, as we do into the development of our product. Because of this, each of the non-profits we partner with for our volunteer events are hand-picked by our team members – from our CEO down. There is a “hand-picked” joke in there somewhere, because that’s just what we did with everything from peppers to hibiscus plants during our Good Samaritan volunteer event.
I was thrilled when my hand-picked choice, Good Samaritan Health Center, also known as Good Sam, was chosen as our quarterly volunteer outing. Good Sam is a health center and farm in the Bankhead neighborhood of Atlanta, where our US Headquarters are located. The health center provides affordable, low-cost healthcare to members of the community in need. However, Good Sam also recognizes that healthcare starts with prevention. Often, this prevention is as simple as having access to healthy, nutrient-rich, foods. To address this need, Good Sam uses its onsite farm to grow entirely organic produce that is then sold at a reduced rate at their market. The market runs throughout the week, with all profits made from sales reabsorbed and used to help sustain the organization.
The area of Bankhead where the farm is located is considered a food desert, where members of the community rarely have access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food options. Good Sam addresses this issue by maintaining low prices for its fresh produce and accepting government-assisted food benefits. However, food insecurity is a consistent problem, and the profits generated by the farm are in no way sufficient to support the many charitable health-focused programs the center provides. Like many non-profits, Good Sam relies on a delicate mixture of volunteers and fundraising to keep the operation running. By choosing to partner with them as a company, and as a volunteer group, we were able to directly support their efforts to feed the community.
Itentialites Take on the Farm
On the day of our volunteer event, we arrived at the Good Sam Farm and immediately got to work. Our group was comprised of about 20 volunteers, and after a brief introduction, we jumped right into a variety of tasks. We gleaned (yes, with a g) pepper, hibiscus, and tomato plants to make sure we harvested every last edible portion of the plant, leaving no waste. After our harvest was complete, we removed the leftover debris so new crops could take their place. This included preparing the plant beds for the upcoming frost by installing poles and coverings and spreading mulch throughout the farm. Through our combined efforts, we were able to accomplish in a couple of hours what would typically take Good Sam’s small, dedicated, staff over a week to complete. This is a true testament to the way our team at Itential takes on every project, whether they are work or personal related tasks.
We were even able to recruit more volunteers on-site – two farm kittens named Sage and Chamomile. It’s difficult to find volunteers so deep in the city with an interest in farming – so who were we to turn down the extra help!?
Why Itential Volunteers Locally
The staff at Good Sam is incredibly hard working, but no amount of hard work can make up for limited manpower. They simply do not have the resources to tackle such a huge problem alone. Whether you are able to volunteer personally, get your company or organization involved, or simply help share information about the wide-spread struggle of food insecurity and hunger – there is always something to be done, and a way that you can contribute.
The work we did that day on the farm was appreciated. But the appreciation we were given pales in comparison the how appreciative we felt as we began to truly understand the effort that the organization puts into addressing an issue within our community that affects us all. Though we made some progress, the work we completed amounted to a drop in the bucket of what is still left to be done. We were so grateful for the education Good Sam provided us and look forward to continuing to support their efforts in any way we can. Our team is very passionate about local organizations and volunteer opportunities and every time we make it out to support a local organization, we feel the impact it has.
A Culture of Community & Giving Back
When you’re spending time with Itential employees (affectionately called “ItentialLites”) you get the sense that you are surrounded by a truly special group, full of caring and driven individuals. This is something I’ve experienced firsthand in just my short time here so far. It is experiences like coming together to volunteer that remind you of what it means to be a part of a company that prioritizes its community, and its people, over its bottom line. We can’t wait to make it out to the farm again and see how our work supported new growth for Good Sam!
If you’re interested in volunteering at the Good Sam Farm, you can find more information at https://goodsamatlanta.org/thefarm/ or reach out directly by e-mailing nobie@goodsamatlanta.org.
If you are interested in joining a company with priorities and beliefs that align with yours, check out our career’s page, and explore where you fit.
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