Financing company gives employees time off to volunteer helping flood victims
As South Carolina residents reeled from catastrophic flooding, one mortgage lender stepped up by giving time off to its staff to help victims.
South Carolina suffered catastrophic flooding during what meteorologists called a thousand-year rainfall last month. Because of devastating road and property damage and the loss of lives, President Barack Obama declared South Carolina in a state of emergency. As danger subsided, employees of the Columbia Guild Mortgage branch went to work.
“We are dedicated to serving the communities where we live and work,” said Caitlyn Bell, transaction coordinator for Guild’s Columbia branch. “Lamont Watson, producing sales manager, organized volunteer work at Harvest Hope and our team was happy to assist.”
Team members were given days off work to help with cleanup efforts and volunteered on weekends, assisting families of flood-stricken homes. Other Guild employees volunteered with the Harvest Hope Food Bank by sorting and packaging food for distribution to flood victims.
A GoFundMe account was created by branch manager Heyward Cathcart, encouraging company employees, friends and family members to raise money for victims. A goal of $5,000 was set during its launch and rapidly gained widespread attention.
“People from across the nation have donated,” said Bell. “Every penny counts and it’s amazing to see how quickly friends and strangers reached out to help others. Our GoFundMe page spread like wildfire and we’ve raised nearly $15,000 together.”
The funds donated will go entirely to the Red Cross in the name of the flood victims of South Carolina. It fits within the company’s giving program established company-wide in 2010 to encourage employees to donate time and money to worthy causes to help improve the communities where its employees live and work.
