25 Acts of Kindness: HCA Teams with Community for Occupy Sandy

25 Acts of Kindness:  HCA Teams with Community for Occupy Sandy

The Full Circle Committee strives to promote Hickok Cole’s collaborative philosophy through philanthropic activities. We create awareness, opportunity & connection both within our firm and in the greater community. We feel that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” The goals of the committee are to:

Improve our community through volunteer efforts
Serve as a resource both within the firm and outside the firm to promote philanthropic activities
Create team building opportunities for the firm
Motivate our community to “Go Give and Feel Good”

This year, the Full Circle Committee celebrates Hickok Cole’s 25th Anniversary by performing 25 Acts of Kindness. We will touch varying types of organizations, both small and large. The 25 Acts range from organizing a book drive to sending cards to our troops. In April, we kicked-off our 25 Acts of Kindness and traveled to Staten Island to help the Hurricane Sandy victims who are still recovering their homes after the storm last October.

Hickok Cole employees, as well as representatives from GPI Engineers, American Office, DBI Architects, the Corcoran and DC Eco Woman headed to NY on a bus provided by Chariots for Hire and sponsored by HITT Contracting, Inc. Meals were graciously donated by Balduccis, Las Strada and Goodfella’s Pizza.

The volunteers who spent the day mucking out homes and removing debris. They also cleared out a trailer for World Cares Center’s new touch down space, since they currently function out of an empty garage. Per the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, in January more than 41,000 homeowners were still displaced, and that fact was apparent to our team. “The most eye-opening aspect of the day was how devastated so many homes still are” observed one of our volunteers, Kate Robertson. “Many residents vacated their properties until recently because they were so overwhelmed by the damage.”

One homeowner expressed how “he feels hopeless and like no one cares anymore”, but the support they were shown by our team helped renew their hope. Many other homeowners and businesses continue to rely on volunteers to restore their buildings and their lives. For more information on how YOU can help Sandy victims, contact Michelle Bascome, World Cares Center (mbascome@worldcares.org). This year we hope to inspire not only our own employees, but other industry partners to GO GIVE, and perform your own Acts of Kindness.

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