Sequoia Gives Back And You Can Too

It’s that time of the year again for not only receiving, but giving too! With the hardships that many have had to go through over the last year, giving is more important now than ever before. Many of our team members have taken the initiative to step up and give back in their local communities. Here at Sequoia we provide our team members with 32 purpose hours to give them the opportunity to volunteer anywhere they want! From food banks to protests, our team members stepped up over the last year and have given back to some amazing organizations. One team member said, “I am so thankful that Sequoia gives us the opportunity to give back to the community and to programs that we care about.” As a company, Sequoia also highlights one nonprofit organization every year to donate to during our annual Holiday Luncheon. In 2020, we highlighted THREE Human Rights organizations: Human Rights First, Californians for Justice, and the Children’s Defense Fund.

Hear from some of our team members about their experiences volunteering:

Yvonne Smith, Corporate Office, Walnut Creek, CA

Yvonne used her purpose day hours by donating blood at a local blood bank and attended multiple Black Lives Matter Protests in the Contra Costa County Area.

Richard Rogers, Center Pointe, Beaverton, OR

Richard has worked with organizations like Make A Wish Foundation, Children in Need Foundation, and Meals on Wheels throughout the PNW either by raising money or volunteering. Last year, he and his team raised over $5,000 for the Make A Wish Foundation!

Felicia Estrada, Corporate Office, Walnut Creek, CA

Felicia has used her purpose hours volunteering at multiple places in the Bay Area including the Food Bank of Contra Costa where she worked in the Community Produce Distribution Area. She also spent time at the San Francisco Dress For Success Clothing & Accessories Drop Off.

Lauren Espina, Corporate Office, Walnut Creek, CA

After the devastating fires in California this year, Lauren helped some of her family friends collect donations for fire victims in need. She helped at a "shopping" event for victims to pick up necessities and essentials.

Yvonne Van Allen, Hidden Hills, Laguna Niguel, CA

Earlier this year Yvonne coordinated hosting a baby shower donation drive for the local Marine Corps base. This is the 4th year that Yvonne has coordinated this specific event. Her team collected donations of baby items and gave them to mothers-to-be living on the local Marine Corps base whose significant others were deployed during their pregnancy. Yvonne also helped show appreciation to local fire fighters when wildfires threatened Orange County. The team coordinated delivering pizzas and drinks to two local fire stations as a big thank you from the Hidden Hills team for keeping their county safe.

Ramon Macias, The Vintage at South Meadows, Reno, NV

Ramon has spent a few days this year volunteering at the Food Bank of Northern Nevada with his family. Ramon wanted his boys (13 and 15) to see the importance of volunteering and helping his community. The process is simple, you open huge boxes of non-perishable foods and other items and our job is to sort it out and take it to a scale to be boxed and labeled. The items are sorted out by categories such us; protein, snacks, vegetables, beverages, baby food, dry foods and grains. Once boxed, they get sent out to churches, senior communities and/or food trucks that go into local communities.

Sandpiper Village Team, Vacaville, CA

In January, the team spent their lunch hour going to a Senior Convalescent Home located a few blocks from the community where they played balloon volleyball with all the seniors. In February, they spent time helping at the Vacaville Opportunity House, preparing food bags for families that are low income-based or homeless and in need of food supplies.

Our Sequoia residents have also teamed up with us to give back this year too!

Hidden Lake, Sacramento, CA - hosted a canned food drive with Elk Grove Community Food bank and are asking for donations from their residents.

The Carriages at Fairwood Downs, Renton, WA - is hosting a warm coat drive in partnership with One Warm Coat.

Cortland Village, Hillsboro, OR - partnered with KGW TV to be a drop off site for their Great Toy Drive!

Tower Apartments, Alameda, CA - is hosting a warm blanket drive to donate to people in need.

Hidden Hills, Laguna Niguel, CA - is partnering with South County Outreach to accept food donations over the holidays for those in need in our South County communities.

Whether you give back in person or through donations, there are many opportunities for you to get involved! Interested in volunteering in your local community?! Check out some opportunities below:

Bay Area

Dress For Success San Francisco:

https://sanfrancisco.dressforsuccess.org/get-involved/donate/

Donate Blood in your area through Red Cross Blood:

https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/location/pleasant-hill-american-red-cross.html?utm_source=GMBlisting&utm_medium=organic

Contra Costa and Solano Food Bank (in person) Concord, CA:

https://volunteer.foodbankccs.org/opportunity/a1J0H00000usDbhUAE

Petaluma Food Bank:

https://refb.org/volunteer-opportunities/

Sacramento

Sacramento Food Bank (in person - must complete a 75 min prerequisite before volunteering):

https://www.sacramentofoodbank.org/become-a-volunteer