Townsend Security Data Privacy Blog

Volunteer & Community Giving Initiatives at Townsend Security

Posted by Sandra Hulteen on Sep 5, 2014 3:15:00 PM

Logistics and the Food Bank

I observe an incredible amount of logistics when I volunteer each month at our local food bank. Food is donated from a multitude of sources including government programs, community food drives and individual contributions. It arrives packed in bulk quantities on pallets from the federal government and in small grocery bags of assorted items from local citizens. All of the items need to be resorted and repackaged so that families will have access to a variety of foods in quantities that meet their needs.

My first few volunteer sessions I floated around to various departments like produce and dairy, but lately find myself consistently in the dry goods sorting room where pallets of assorted items are delivered to the sorting room to take the next steps in the process from arrival to distribution: 

  1. Teams of volunteers sort a box at a time into carts by type so that they can be counted.  
  2. Boxes of donations are resorted into carts by type of item such as canned vegetable, cereal, oatmeal, fruit, large soup, small soup, coffee, tea, baking ~ there are close to forty different sorts. 
  3. Each group of items is then counted and entered into the tracking system that records the amount by donor.  
  4. The counted items are sorted into their storage bins and then stocked to the shelves for clients to choose from.

The same process and sort function goes on in other departments ~ dairy products into yogurt, eggs, milk; pizza & baked goods into smaller packages; produce into bins by type. Any particular item gets handled several times from its initial donation until it ultimately is delivered to the community.

I think I probably demonstrated my accounting inclinations at an early age ~ I was always sorting items by type, color, whatever I could figure out.  I’ve come to see accounting as a giant sort function, taking large amounts of data and sorting it into its relevant buckets.  I find it a bit funny that volunteering with cans of green beans and packets of oatmeal, I am still doing the same function.  

Sandra at the Food Bank

As always, each time I volunteer, I am humbled by the grace and kindness of the volunteers and clients at the food bank.  I am grateful that Townsend Security encourages and allows me the opportunity to contribute back to our community with its Volunteer Program.

Sandra, Controller at Townsend Security

Topics: Giving, Community, United Way, Townsend Security

Community Giving: Volunteering at the Local Food Bank

Posted by Sandra Hulteen on Nov 29, 2012 9:23:00 AM

thurston county food bankI dropped a tomato and it rolled away under the table.  I picked up a bag of pears and the pears skittered across the floor as the wet bottom gave away.  I juggled the eggplants as they slipped through my hands.  All of these nervous first steps were right in front of the seasoned verterans who were showing me the ropes the morning before the Thurston County Food Bank opened.  With all of this, I thought the Food Bank might not really want me helping in the produce section if I was going to cause so much vegetable trauma.  But the other volunteers were kind and patient; and I persisted through that embarrassing start.  By the end of the day, I ended up sorting several boxes of fall produce – apples, kale, squash, pears and lettuce.  If anything was found too ripe during final inspection, we set it aside to give to local farmers to feed their livestock. Once the food bank opened, I helped staff the dry goods aisle, helping customers select their allotted items.

During my time volunteering, I had the pleasure of working with other kind volunteers, as well as meeting friendly customers.  One customer personally thanked me for my time volunteering, making my day with his cheer and smile.  As I continue to volunteer at the Food Bank, I am finding that the rewards and joy come back in much greater volumes than the small portion of my time that I contribute. 

Townsend Security encourages and supports volunteering for all employees by providing four hours of paid time per month.  This has inspired me to just schedule a day and time to volunteer, even though I always have plenty of competing tasks to do at work and home.  

The Volunteer Policy is part of a broader commitment by the company to support our local community.  Townsend Security also donates financial resources to our local United Way, and matches employee donations to 501(c)3 organizations.  Many of us here at Townsend Security believe that we have resources we can and should share, and that we can make a difference by acting locally.

We invite you to take a look at all of our community sponsorships that we are a part of.  You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to see what we are up to next.

Topics: Giving, Community

Cancer - Not Just a Zodiac Sign for Townsend Security

Posted by Robbn Miller on Oct 4, 2011 10:01:00 AM

Cancer, directly or indirectly, affects everyone somehow.  It cares not about age, sex, wealth, your faith (or lack of it).  Cancer can develop in almost any organ or tissue in your body.  

Townsend Security's team has been struck three times by cancer.  So in true Townsend spirit we don't just sit around and do nothing, we FIGHT BACK and support each other and our communities!   

Walk for HopeOctober is national Cancer Awareness Month, so to support those we love and those who have been afflicted, a few of us from Townsend Security flew to Chicago to participate in the City of Hope's 2011 Walk for Hope.  The City of Hope is an independent biomedical, treatment and education center.  Founded in 1913, and driven by compassion, researchers and caregivers at the City of Hope strive to bring the world closer to a cure.

We joined Sharon Kleinerman, one of our Account Managers, and her team at The Glen Town Center for the start of our 5k walk/run!  The Glen Town Center has been transformed from a naval base into a beautiful outdoor shopping ceCommunity Givingnter that includes a park with a lake and walking trails.  The shopping was tempting, but we were here to raise money to fight cancer.  Just as the walk was about to begin, a light drizzle began falling all around us and we became dubious about what the weather conditions might be for the rest of the day.  Fortunately, just as the walk started, the rain let up.  We began to think that we might actually have a dry walk after all.  However, half-way through...the rain was back with a vengeance.  The rain refused to let up but it couldn't dampen ours' (or any of the participants') excitement and enthusiasm.   Finally, an hour later, we finished - a team of 8 soaking wet WINNERS!!

While participating in the Walk for Hope we learned facts about cancer that are  good for everyone to know.  Did you know that the four most common cancers in the United States are breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer?   Did you know there are simple ways to protect yourself against these types of cancer - things you can start doing today?

The Mayo Clinic offers 7 Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer:

  • Don't use tobacco
  • Eat a healthy diet (THINK COLORS!!)
  • Exercise is your friend. Maintain an healthy weight and keep moving.
  • Protect your self from the sun - even in rainy Olympia, those nasty rays are everywhere and they get through the clouds.  Just because you can't see the sun doesn't mean it is not there. Use sunscreen!!
  • Avoid risky behavior
  • Get immunized
  • Perform regular self exams - KNOW what to look for!!
Screening increases the chances of detecting certain cancers early, when they are most likely to be curable.

To learn more about how you can help:
The City of Hope
The American Cancer Society
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

We invite you to take a look at all of our community sponsorships that we are a part of.  You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to see what we are up to next.

 

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Topics: Giving, Community

Townsend Security's Spirit of Giving

Posted by Kristie Edwards on May 26, 2011 9:46:00 AM

United Way Spirit of GivingWhen we walked in the room at St. Martins University, there was a look of amazement in my eyes to see the amount of people involved in our community.  Two hundred people filled the room Tuesday for a lunch put on by United Way for their Spirit of Giving celebration.  Today was not just a lunch date, it was for honoring businesses and community members for their stewardship.  We had the chance to enjoy listening to one of the local high school choir groups and Bill Grace, the director of Common Good Works, speak to us about “Leadership for the Common Good.”  We had a few heart felt moments during our special lunch, for example when handing out the Gladys Burns Human Service Award.  The award went to a man who has recently passed away, but has left a hand print in the world with his generosity toward Thurston County.  His wife accepted the award on his behalf and explained how his life was spent helping others.  

United Way Spirit of GivingTownsend Security received the award of corporate sponsor of the year, by increasing our donations by 132%.  Here at Townsend, our company matches our donations dollar for dollar to any 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, up to $500 per employee each calendar year.

Patrick Townsend, the Founder and CTO of Townsend Security, is also a board member for the United Way.  He has started a path for this company and its employees to follow in his footsteps by giving back to our community.  Townsend Security is not only an encryption software company providing certified products to our customers and meeting PCI compliance, but also giving back to our community.  We understand the need of giving and United Way is one of the many ways we do that.  

We invite you to take a look at all of our community sponsorships we are apart of.  You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to see what we are up to next.

 

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Topics: Giving, United Way

Don't Just Love Us Because We Do Encryption & Key Management!

Posted by Robbn Miller on Mar 11, 2011 8:56:00 AM

Power-of-PurseTownsend Security heartily supports non-profit organizations in our community. So it comes as no surprise that several Townsend Security employees were spotted at the annual United Way “Power of the Purse” fundraiser last week.

The event raises money to help disadvantaged women, young and old, become more financially stable and self-sufficient.  This is a cause that speaks to the hearts of the strong women of Townsend,  how could we not show our support? 

Over 100 women (and a few men) from all backgrounds and professions joined together to meet new friends and support a wonderful cause.  We strolled the silent auction, enjoyed a wonderful meal and participated in the bidding frenzy of the progressive auction.  Funds raised from the auction went directly to support the financial stability of women and girls of Thurston County, where Townsend Security has its headquarters.
    
The evening was a success in so many ways. Over $10,000 was  raised to create scholarships and help fund the overall program. We were able to visit with old friends and make new acquaintances.  And as the Ladies of Townsend packed up our purses and treasures from the evening we couldn't help but feel fortunate to have been in such good company while  supporting a wonderful cause.

For the month of March, 2011 Townsend Security is asking you to help us support the United Way.  Join the conversation and collobarate with fellow IT Security Professionals, we'll donate $1.00 for each new follower on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

Topics: Giving, United Way