Corporate volunteers make an impact across Lyngblomsten and the community
September 20, 2018
Volunteers from APi Group and UnitedHealthcare help wrap presents for Lyngblomsten residents as part of a corporate volunteer experience in December 2017.
By Brandi Jewett
The sights and sounds of the Minnesota State Fair drew more than 2 million people through its gates this year. Among them were a group of Lyngblomsten Care Center residents accompanied by corporate volunteers from several area companies who were ready to enjoy a day of giving back.
The state fair outing marked the first time Lori Lengsfeld, an analyst for Travelers Insurance, volunteered as part of Lyngblomsten’s corporate engagement program, but she isn’t new to corporate volunteering. Lengsfeld has participated in Habitat for Humanity volunteer opportunities through work and runs her office’s blood drive.
“Volunteering helps me expand my horizons when it comes to meeting and helping people,” Lengsfeld said.
During the August fair trip, she and other corporate volunteers saw the impact they made firsthand in the smiles of care center residents they took through the fairgrounds. The annual outing always is bright spot in the residents’ day.
"Our residents love this, and we couldn't do this without volunteers," said Leigh Emmerich, Director of Social Service and Therapeutic Recreation for Lyngblomsten.
Corporate volunteers have opportunities to make an impact in many ways with Lyngblomsten. They can take residents and tenants on outings, assist with bingo games, help with socials, and much more, according to Tim Overweg, Director of Community Engagement.
“These are opportunities for them to spend more time with a resident, engage in conversation with them, hear some life stories, and share their own stories,” Overweg said. “It provides for a more intimate experience.”
Corporate volunteering opportunities like those offered by Lyngblomsten are seeing more and more participation from companies in the Twin Cities and across the country. The trend is driven in part by consumers, who are moving beyond the basics of what they want or need from a company and its products or services, according to Overweg. They now have an interest in how companies serve not just their customers but also the community.
“Consumers want to know that a business recognizes the importance of responsibilities to a community, to the environment, to humanity, as well as a bottom line,” Overweg said. “When companies provide opportunities for their employees to give back, the rest of us notice and feel better about our interaction with those companies.”
Lyngblomsten has long recognized the power of people serving one another, and its corporate volunteer program allows businesses to foster a more personal link to the community and make a difference. The program offers year-round opportunities with flexible scheduling to allow corporate groups room to navigate busy schedules.
“The Twin Cities is fortunate to have a healthy and energized corporate culture that is filled with caring and compassionate employees,” Overweg said. “When those employees and Lyngblomsten come together to preserve and enhance the quality of life for older adults, we all win.”
For more information about corporate volunteering, visit Lyngblomsten’s Corporate Group page or contact Overweg at (651) 632-5319, toverweg@lyngblomsten.org.