In addition to these activities organized by our health and wellness committee, many Co-op employees are active participants in the United Way of Addison County's payroll deduction giving program.
Co-op employee activities
Each year, Co-operative Insurance Companies' health and wellness committee organizes employee involvement in community causes. Here's what we're up to in 2008:
Supporting local food shelves
Activities throughout 2008
In February, we gave three Addison County food shelves the proceeds from our annual Super Bowl celebration -- enough to purchase over 1300 pounds of food!
Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival
August 3, 2008
This will be our second year in a festival run by Dragonheart Vermont, a breast cancer survivor dragon boat team. Proceeds go to Dragonheart and Fletcher Allen Health Care's Cancer Patient Support Program Emergency Fund. Our team of 21 employees and friends will race a 40-foot canoe in several heats throughout the day.
Porter Nursing Home Angels
November-December 2008
Co-op employees will help provide presents to the residents of this 105-bed nursing home in Middlebury, VT.
In 2007, our staff participated in the following:
Middlebury College Relay for Life
April 20-21
This overnight relay raises money for the American Cancer Society. Co-op's team walked through the night to raise more than $5,000.
Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival
August 5
The 2007 festival -- our first -- raised funds for VNA's Hospice of the Champlain Valley and Vermont Respite House. We didn't win any races, but we had fun trying!
Addison County Habitat for Humanity
June through November
Groups of Co-op employees volunteered with the Habitat group on its Bristol build. We helped out with mailings and behind-the scenes work. During our Nov. 3 onsite work shift, a dozen employees and friends installed flashing, framed walls, insulated, hung drywall and doors, and cleared out three loads of lumber.