All Elm Street Technology employees may take one-day of paid leave annually to volunteer. Just submit your request to Ellen Trastelis along with your charity of choice.

Looking for a good starting point? Check out the list of charities below compiled by your fellow employees. Have other suggestions? Perfect, just EMAIL them over.

Have you taken a volunteer day? We want to share your story! EMAIL a photo/video and a brief description of your experience to help build the #ElevateCares initiative.

Juvenal Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)*

Funding research to help fight type 1 diabetes and find a cure.

• Volunteer at a local chapter, work an event like a gala or walk, serve on a leadership committee, offer support through their family outreach program, or donate money online.

The Arc of Greensboro*

An organization of and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families

• Volunteer with special programs like Challenger Sports, fundraising events, office assistance, and more. You can also donate money online.

American Heart Association*

An organization on a mission to improve the lives of those living with heart disease, raise awareness and prevention, discover better treatment and ultimately a cure. Heart disease is the #1 killer in America.

• There are TONS of ways to get involved with the AHA: fundraising opportunities, serving on a local team, virtual volunteering, Heart Walks/Balls, helping specifically with the Go Red for Women initiative, and of course donating money to the cause.

Children’s Home Society of NC

A non-profit dedicated to promoting the right of every child to a permanent, safe, loving family. They pair adoption and foster families with children and offer educational resources to any parent wanting to facilitate the best family environment they can.

• Become a Wise Guy Trainer mentoring male youth, help with special events, serve on the Community Leadership Council, donate online, etc.

American Red Cross*

Helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.

• Donate blood, work as a blood drive volunteer, train on how to respond to a disaster, help deliver messages to military members, donate online, etc.

Out of the Garden Project

Providing families with nourishing food for strong minds and bodies.

• Donate your own food, help with Operation Backpack to provide schoolchildren with food they need over the weekend, volunteer at a Fresh Mobile Market to supply families with fresh food, work at the Urban Teaching Farm to grow fresh food for distribution and teach others how to grow their own food, repackage donated food from restaurants and grocery stores in the Food Reclamation Initiative, help with the Summer Meals Program, and many other programs.

Greensboro Urban Ministry

Serving the Greensboro community by offering food, shelter, and solutions to help our neighbors live stable lives.

• Organize a food drive, work special events like the CROP Hunger Walk or Feast of Caring, volunteer to be an Emergency Assistance receptionist or interviewer, tutor children at the Partnership Village, assist at the Weaver House Shelter, serve meals at the Pathways Family Center or Potter’s House Community Kitchen, or donate money online.

Family Service of the Piedmont

Addressing issues of domestic violence, child abuse, mental health, and financial stability to build safe, healthy, and happy families.

• Volunteer at special events like the Big Hair Ball, the High Point Oyster Roast, Jamestown Pig Pickin’, help with childcare and youth programs at the resource center in High Point, donate online, etc.

Second Harvest Food Bank*

Providing food to fight hunger in our community.

• Prepare meals at the food bank, pack pallets with food for delivery, sort donated food, work at the teaching garden, help with data entry and administrative support, help with Empty Bowls, etc.

The Barnabas Network

A furniture bank that accepts furniture donations from around the community to give to clients transitioning out of homelessness, recovering from a major setback, fleeing abuse, or overcoming severe poverty.

• Donate gently used furniture (they will even pick up for free) or smaller housewares like pots and pans, small appliances, etc., work in the warehouse to sort housewares or furniture, help repair furniture, work in the front office, serve as a shopping assistant, help with several fundraising Big Warehouse Sales throughout the year, or donate online.

United Way of Greater Greensboro*

Leading a local movement to end poverty.

• Help with special events throughout the year, become a mentor to a child.

• Mentoring Matters Initiative, work or run in the United Way’s Human Race 5k, advocate the local government for support, join a group within the organization like African American Leadership, Women United, or Young Leaders, donate online, etc.

Red Dog Farm

A nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of abused or otherwise neglected animals.

• Foster an animal in your home (dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs, farm animals, etc.), volunteer at adoption fairs or other special events, buy animal supplies from the wishlist, donate online, or sponsor an animal.

Rachel’s Table

Distributes food to agencies feeding hungry citizens of greater Worcester and purchases milk for needy children.

• Be a Volunteer Driver to distribute food, volunteer from home as a dispatcher arranging the pick up and drop off of food, or donate money or food.

Veterans Inc.

Helping veterans regain control of their lives to end veteran homelessness through job skills training, government advocacy, and finding homes for displaced veterans.

• Be a driver to take veterans to appointments, help with special events, work on facility and maintenance projects, help in the food pantry or serve hot meals, work as a greeter or office support, sponsor recreational activities for the residents, tutor/teach, or donate money.

Regional Environmental Council (REC)

An urban agriculture-focused program providing and teaching about nutritious food to impoverished communities and youth.

• Work in the garden and greenhouses, help with the mobile markets in impoverished communities, volunteer at special events, or donate money online.

Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL)

A nonprofit animal shelter caring for animals and finding them forever homes.

• Volunteer in the office, at special events or projects, care for and train the animals in the shelter, help with graphic design, foster an animal in your home, or donate supplies or money.

Seven Hills Foundation

Provides clinical, educational, and community-based support to individuals with disabilities or other significant life challenges.

• Share your time being a mentor, tutor, hosting arts and crafts events, teaching dance or music classes, be a workout buddy for participants in the program, accompany participants on outings in the community, or donate online.

WHY ME (Worcester Help for Youth, Memories Everlasting)

Started by 13 year-old Sherry Shepherd in 1985 during the last months of her life, WHY ME helps families dealing with childhood cancer.

• Help with childcare assistance, meal assistance, fundraising and family fun events, general office support or housekeeping, running errands, transporting patients to appointments, donate items off the wish list, or donate money.

Girls Inc. of Worcester*

Inspiring girls to be strong, smart, and bold by providing enriching experiences and solutions to unique challenges that girls face.

• Serve as a coach in a leadership program, be a mentor, assist in the after-school program or special events, assist in the marketing or fundraising departments, share a special skill you have, or donate online.

Shine Initiative

Focused on combating discrimination and de-stigmatizing mental health conditions in children, teens, and young adults.

• Help with special events, join an ongoing group like Shine Young Professionals, champion the mission to schools and around the community, mentor a Mindmatters team, or donate online.

United Way of Central Massachusetts*

Connecting people and resources to improve the community through volunteer work.

• Mentor middle schoolers on basic money management skills, help low- and moderate- income families complete their tax returns, work on the Women’s Initiative committee, replenish food pantries, or donate online.

Pathways for Change

Providing services to those whose lives have been impacted by sexual violence and education geared towards ending violence in Central Massachusetts.

• Provide counseling on the 24-hour hotline, accompany participants to medical or legal appointments, help in community education to end violence, do administrative work in the office, or donate online.

African Community Education Program (ACE) Providing transitional education support to Worcester immigrants of African origin.

• Become a mentor or tutor to participants of all ages, help with Saturday STEM programs and learning English, help with enriching activities like sports and crafts, go on field trips to local museums, provide childcare for parents in ESL classes, participate in home and school outreach programs, help in workforce development preparation, or donate online.

Abby’s House

Providing shelter, affordable housing, advocacy, and support services to homeless, battered, and low-income women with or without children.

• Provide coverage at the shelter, work the Thrift Shop, teach classes or workshops in the Women’s Center, cook and/or serve meals, work as a receptionist, organize a donation drive, donate needed items, or donate money online.

North Texas Food Bank

Distributing millions of meals per year to end hunger in North Texas.

• Sort and pack food in the warehouse, be a social media ambassador, work in the gardens or give tours to visitors, volunteer at the mobile pantry, teach cooking or nutrition classes, deliver food to schools, work special events, or donate online.

NPower

Dedicated to preparing veterans, military spouses, and young adults in underserved communities with training to enter a technology profession.

• Teach students in-person or virtually, in small or large groups, and for short or long tech projects in basic tech fundamentals, cybersecurity, cloud computing, or coding, or donate online.

Frisco Family Services

Helping members of the Frisco community who are experiencing homelessness, facing hunger, or other urgent needs in an effort to make them lead self- sufficient lives.

• Work in the resale store or food pantry sorting donations, work seasonal and fundraising events, bring your kids with you to help in the community garden or build birthday and holiday boxes, donate goods or money.

Frisco Fastpacs

Delivering individual and pre-packed meals to all 72 Frisco ISD schools (over 1000 kids weekly) for students to have meals over the weekend.

• Host a food drive, write “High Five” encouragement cards for the kids’ packs, participate in community pack nights, be a volunteer driver, or donate food or money.

Emily’s Place

Provides a bridge for women experiencing homelessness when fleeing from abusive homes.

• Deliver dinner and socialize with residents, offer any financial or professional services you specialize in to residents, work in the office or maintenance in the yard, provide childcare in the evenings when women with children attend classes, donate supplies, become a representative to end domestic violence, or donate financially.

Becky’s Hope Horse Rescue

Dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of abused or abandoned horses and other farm animals.

• Work on the farm with the animals, host a fundraiser, help with special events and community outreach, or donate online.

Evan’s Avengers

Drive awareness of the under-funding of childhood cancer research, raise money for research, and establish mentorships among families who have experienced childhood cancer.

• Volunteer at fundraisers and Hospital Holidays, advocate congressmen to increase the percentage of funding allotted to childhood cancer research (currently only 4%), be a social media ambassador, create your own fundraiser, Go Gold for Evan, or donate financially.

Powered to Move

Assisting those with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities to achieve their fitness goals and have fun doing it.

• Help lead fitness classes, become a Wingman to help program participants be a part of local runs.

Frisco Humane Society

A fully volunteer based non-kill rescue group placing animals with foster families and forever homes.

• Foster an animal in your home, help with the dog or cat program in screening potential foster families, help with special events and fundraisers, or donate supplies or money.

Box of Balloons Dallas*

An organization dedicated to ensuring every child can feel celebrated on their birthday.

• Help pack boxes, donate birthday supplies, deliver boxes to the local organizations and schools where the families will pick up, create your own fundraiser, or donate money.

Hope’s Door New Beginning Center

Providing shelter, safety, and therapy/counseling to members of the community experiencing domestic abuse.

• Provide childcare while survivors are in counseling, provide admin support at the shelters, organize donations, prepare and distribute food, answer the emergency hotline, assist in the resale store, or donate online.

Habitat for Humanity of Collin County*

Dedicated to ending substandard housing for families by building low-cost, high-quality homes for qualified applicants.

• Help on a construction build (no construction experience required), sponsor a home, work in the ReStore with donations, be a worksite leader, provide homemade lunch or catering for workers, be a family mentor working with the family who will eventually own the home, donate home furnishings, or donate money.