BSGI recognizes the fact that serving the community benefits our neighbors as well as our employees. We do this by raising money, collecting donations, and allowing employees to volunteer during work hours. We care about our community and try to support a wide range of causes that are important to our employees.
Continue reading for more information about some of the organization we work with.
During the summer, Fridays are “Bring your Pet to Work” days. Employees can sign up to bring their furry friends to work when they bring in a donation of treats, food, blankets and other supplies for our local animal shelter. We’ve also held a “Pet Photos with Santa” around Christmas to collect supplies for ARL as well.
City Lights is a ministry that provides meals, shelter, and other support for the homeless in downtown Reading. BSGI has a year-round collection of adult socks for City Lights since this is one of the greatest needs they see in the people they serve.
BSGI has a year-round collection of non-perishable food for the Greater Mifflin Food Pantry. This ministry distributes food and other supplies to people who have fallen on hard times in our school district. Some of our employees have also volunteered on the food distribution days.
New Journey provides many services to the homeless and underprivileged in Reading, including a soup kitchen, food pantry, and clothing bank. BSGI has a year-round collection for children’s socks and underwear, as well as toiletries for this organization. In addition to donating, employees also have opportunities to volunteer at the soup kitchen and food pantry during the workday.
Every Friday, 2 BSGI employees deliver meals to elderly residents of the community. Our local Meals on Wheels chapter cooks meals for those who are homebound or unable to cook for themselves. In delivering these meals, BSGI employees also provide a few moments of conversation and a smile to these patrons, along with checking on their safety and well-being.
Bethany Children’s Home provides a safe home for youth who have been abandoned, abused, or neglected. They have a large campus that provides supportive care, recreational opportunities, and therapeutic services in a family environment. At Christmastime, BSGI holds a collection for stocking stuffers for the youth. In the spring, employees can volunteer during work hours to help with maintenance projects at Bethany. In the summer, employees can spend time with the youth at one of their summer activity/pool parties. In 2019, BSGI employees raised over $1,000 in a month to send our President, Beth Hahn, “Over the Edge” for Bethany’s annual fundraiser.
Mary’s Shelter is a home for pregnant women who have nowhere to go. Every year around Christmas, BSGI employees donate gift cards from grocery stores and gas stations to Mary’s Shelter. They use these cards as gifts and incentives to the mothers in their care. The organization moved to a new building in 2018 and BSGI employees raised money to “adopt” 2 rooms in the new building. Our team painted, furnished, and decorated to make these rooms “home” for the mothers finding shelter in them.
During the 2018 annual company meeting, employees were split into teams and built bikes. These 23 bikes were donated to the Reading School District, who then gave the bikes to students who showed excellence in academics and behavior.
At the 2019 meeting, our employees donned their chef hats and prepared meals for 750+ people in about an hour. Our group made 19 crockpot soups and 150 sandwiches for Hope Rescue Mission, 100 sandwiches (& donated chili) to Opportunity House, 300 bags of trail mix for Olivet Boys & Girls Club, and 200 mason jar soup mixes for Meals on Wheels
