Over 200 Sprouts team members came together on November 4 for the company’s Fifth Annual Sprouts Day of Service, wrapping up a busy season of community volunteering. With events kicking off in September, for Sprouts’ 24 Gardens in 24 Cities grant project, and continuing nearly every week in October, the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation coordinated over 50 volunteer opportunities this fall, bringing together more than 1,100 team members to donate 4,400 hours of their time.
Serving Our Community
For some, the opportunity to volunteer with Sprouts was a new concept. Emily Vogel, Store Manager at ST #173 in Lawrence, Kansas, immediately knew that she’d be volunteering when she learned that a school her mother nominated for the Sprouts 24 Gardens grant program was selected. When the volunteer day came around, Emily was able to stand alongside her mother and her husband to build a school garden in a place that means so much to her.
At other events, team members who have volunteered many times came back again to participate in what they often consider a highlight of the year. This includes Victor Vasquez, Store Manager at ST #920 in Baltimore, Maryland, who recently participated in his sixth Sprouts volunteer event.
“We all get so caught up in our daily lives and this is the one time of year that we can give back to the community,” said Victor, who brings his three sons to the volunteer event each year. “Volunteering is a great way to connect with others and to do something that really matters.”
Sprouting School Gardens
In total, the Foundation’s 50 events hosted this fall are designed to help more students participate in school gardening programs. Recognized as powerful outdoor learning spaces, school gardens provide students with a living classroom, where they are able to take lessons taught in school and apply them in a real-world setting. At the same time, students develop a deeper connection with growing fruits and vegetables, and understanding important life cycles that are part of the natural world.
A Job Well Done
Since its inception, the Foundation has hosted over 500 volunteer workdays and Sprouts volunteers have earned a well-deserved reputation for getting the job done. “Building a school garden takes some real effort, especially when installing new features, digging out Bermuda grass, and taking time to measure cuts to build balanced garden beds,” explains Erika Karner, grants and volunteer specialist for the Sprouts Heathy Communities Foundation. “We have received the same feedback time and time again that Sprouts volunteers show up with a great attitude, ready to help with any project, and get the job done right!”
As the volunteer season winds down, thank you to all of the volunteers who came out this fall, plus the schools and community partners who joined in making these events possible. More volunteer events are on the way for 2024, and we, alongside all of you, cannot wait to get out and volunteer again.
Volunteer Day Photos
