What do delicious homemade pizza and Team U-Haul have in common?
They were both recently found at St. Vincent de Paul’s main campus in Phoenix during a volunteer event where U-Haul Team Members and other volunteers prepared 150 pies for people in need of food.
For more than 70 years, SVdP has provided food, clothing, shelter and medical/dental resources to people experiencing homelessness. As a longtime partner of the respected Arizona charity, Phoenix-headquartered U-Haul International frequently volunteers with SVdP to prepare and serve meals to the hungry, participate in water drives and assist in other volunteer opportunities.
Growing closer
One of the many things that made this event memorable was the U-Haul Recruiting team’s presence. They came out in full force to make pizzas.
“I advertised the event to our department, but made sure that everyone knew it wasn’t mandated,” explained U-Haul Recruiting Manager Jaris Scott. “The people who showed up did so simply because they wanted to be there.
“I think that volunteering helped us grow closer as a team. I feel like we were able to laugh with each other and bond over a good cause. I recommend that other departments try attending volunteer events together whenever they can. Doing so helps you see your fellow Team Members in a whole new light outside of the day-to-day office routine. And it’s just fun.”
At the event, volunteers were responsible for prepping each pizza before it went into the oven. This required pressing out fresh dough, spreading the sauce and topping the pizzas with cheese and pepperoni.
“The SVdP employees were phenomenal at walking us through the pizza-making process, and at helping us feel like our work was appreciated,” Scott added. “They seemed to really enjoy working alongside us, and vice versa. I would definitely volunteer there again.”
A real impact
As someone who regularly hosts orientation meetings for new hires, Recruiting Project Coordinator Kat Miles sees just how much the average jobseeker prioritizes employers that give back and offer volunteer opportunities in the community.
“Incoming and prospective Team Members get so excited when I tell them about all of the service opportunities that U-Haul Company provides, including volunteering with organizations like SVdP,” Miles said. “These opportunities really demonstrate how dedicated U-Haul is to work-life balance, and how our leadership understands the importance of giving back.”
Miles also volunteered at the SVdP pizza-making event.
“After we finished making the pizza, SVdP employees took guests’ orders and served them the type of pizza they wanted, as if they were in a restaurant,” Miles noted. “It was heartwarming to see the care and consideration that SVdP had for each of the guests. As someone whose family utilized food banks and welfare when I was growing up, I know how special it is to have someone care about your likes and dislikes. I’m honored that I was able to participate in this event, and I encourage all Team Members to try their best to volunteer wherever and however they can.”
To read about other U-Haul volunteer events at SVdP, click here.
