United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) believes in the power of people uniting to make a difference. For 10 years, the UWGSL Service2Go Program has inspired thousands of volunteers to roll up their sleeves and give back to the community through projects that help and empower our local neighbors.
Service2Go offers local companies, groups and agencies the opportunity to gather to assemble kit-based projects such as back-to-school kits to ensure children have the resources to excel in school, hygiene kits to meet essential needs, and comfort kits for seniors and those undergoing medical treatment, and much more.
Since Service2Go’s inception, 181 organizations have participated in this selfless service to help others and that is why we are able to celebrate this 10-year anniversary.
“Since Service2Go began, we have engaged over 44,000 volunteers who have built more than 67,000 kits,” said Amy Schroeder, Service2Go Manager of United Way of Greater St. Louis. “The amount of time that they donate to put together these kits and help us provide these supplies touches the lives of so many individuals and families throughout the St. Louis region.”
Service2Go serves to benefit the volunteers just as much as the people being served, this program offers a rewarding experience that gives employees from participating organizations an opportunity to grow together and build comradery while also enhancing their reputation in the community as an organization that prioritizes philanthropic values.
On April 28, 2015, Bayer, then known as Monsanto, participated in UWGSL’s first Service2Go project. The project was held at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) with 140 of Monsanto’s global leaders volunteering to help women, men, and children across our 16-county region. Children’s backpacks were filled with pencils, school paper, folders, and more. And another 650 job kits for women and men contained resume-writing tip sheets to help with employment searches, along with professional dress clothing and personal hygiene items for potential job interviews. It is a day that Bayer employee, Amy Simpson will never forget.
“Seeing our team come together with a shared purpose reminded me why corporate volunteerism matters – it connects people to something larger than themselves,” said Simpson. “We weren’t just packing supplies; we were helping build hope, opportunity and dignity for individuals in our community.”
All the items assembled were distributed to UWGSL partner agency, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis for them to support the people they serve. That day, Bayer helped UWGSL begin a powerful phenomenon focused on local corporations uniting to participate in large-scale volunteer projects that give our neighbors a hand up in an area where they may be lacking.
Simpson continues to be passionate about supporting UWGSL through Service2Go, she said the values that our two organizations share continue to drive Bayer’s enthusiasm for partnering with UWGSL to uplift our region.
“United Way’s work touches lives in real, lasting ways that deeply aligns with our values at Bayer and our commitment to being a force for good where we live and work,” said Simpson. “It’s a partnership built on shared purpose, and our employees are proud to be part of it.”
When corporate values include helping communities, our region thrives. Last year, nearly 6,300 volunteers registered for customized service projects like Service2Go valued at $260,418. This ongoing commitment will ensure our region continues to thrive.
“We believe that strong communities create a strong foundation for everyone to thrive…,” said Simpson. “By investing time and resources, we’re helping to address real challenges and create meaningful, lasting impact.”
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