Aramark Community Relations and the group's EMPOWER employee resource group (ERG) coordinated a series of events for volunteers to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
Breast cancer impacts one in eight women in the United States and 2.3 million women worldwide every year.
Volunteers participated in designing virtual 'Encouragement Cards', with in-person cards writing events to write physical cards for distribution in 'Hope Kits' from the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) held every Wednesday at Aramark’s Global Business Services location in Nashville.
The NBCF’s HOPE Kits are a tangible expression of hope, providing comfort and encouragement to women undergoing breast cancer treatment.
In Philadelphia and Chicago, employees assembled 80 HOPE Kits filled with thoughtful items that patients have said are comforting and encouraging while undergoing breast cancer treatment.
The group hosted a discussion about their personal “why,” and wore stickers with the name of the person they were participating in this activity in honor of.
The group also watched a video that shared first person stories from HOPE Kit recipients and what receiving the kit meant to them during their cancer journey.
“The NBCF’s HOPE Kits are a tangible expression of hope, providing comfort and encouragement to women undergoing breast cancer treatment.
Thanks to these volunteer efforts, we were able to provide kits to 80 women from all over the US, offering additional support during their treatment,” says Kirsten Markovich, Manager, Aramark Community Relations.
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A 'Tech Day of Pink' was held virtually by Avendra Global Supply Chain and Aramark’s Group Purchasing Organization’s IT group.
Employees participated in a virtual encouragement card activity and used a Tech Day of Pink virtual background as a sign of their support and awareness.
Aramark Community Relations also shared resources via email about early detection, connecting with others via virtual community groups hosted by breastcancer.org, other ways to provide support to those in treatment, and links to access the Aramark Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for more support.
Cooking for Healthier Futures for Women
In addition to the volunteer activities sponsored by EMPOWER and Aramark Community Relations in October, Aramark’s team at Lafayette General Medical Center (Lafayette, LA) participated in the Ochsner Lafayette General Foundation’s annual Gumbo Cook-Off, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The team donned seventies-inspired pink costumes as Teyerance Alfred, Chef Manager at Lafayette General Medical Center, and Greg Gilberti, Food Service Manager, cooked up chicken & sausage gumbo and seafood gumbo, respectively, for the competition.
They even shared their tips with the local NBC affiliate.
The proceeds from the Cook-Off benefit breast health for women in Acadiana, LA, who otherwise may not have access to screenings.
EMPOWER is Aramark’s largest and oldest ERG with more than 2,000 members globally.
Since its formation in 2011, it has worked throughout the years to accelerate the advancement of women leaders through an annual symposium, development workshops, mentoring and networking opportunities, and community outreach, while also advocating action for women in the workplace and beyond.
EMPOWER’s Marketplace Chair, Emily Mellon, says: "My 'why' for supporting breast cancer awareness is my mom and grandmom - both are breast cancer survivors.
After seeing the effects of breast cancer on my loved ones firsthand, I will do whatever I can to ease the experience for anyone else going through this!"
Thanks to these volunteer efforts, we were able to provide kits to 80 women from all over the US, offering additional support during their treatment
