October 2022
At the end of September, twenty volunteers from HLBS, CF&T, M&H, and Casey-Fogli united in an effort to plant trees for the Oakland community.
Like most of the others who volunteered, I was simply looking forward to being with workmates outside of the office, giving something back to the community, and meeting a little challenge from my peers at M&H to see who could get the most PE’s to attend (which by the way was a tie head to head but was crushed by CF as a percentile of total PE’s).
For most of us, if not all, the expectation was that we would arrive at some park-like setting, dig a few holes through freshly tilled soil into which we would drop small trees, and maybe a smile or two for a photo opp. You might say, a little work, a little camaraderie, and a little giving back, but “oh boy” were we all in for a surprise.
From the moment we all arrived, it became clear why we were asked to bring gloves and PPE. That afternoon was hot, we worked behind a shoulder closure adjacent to San Leandro Blvd. and we were faced with digging 16 holes, 30 inches in diameter and 36 inches deep through densely compacted base rock. We had shovels, pickaxes, and digging bars, that was it. After quickly assessing the situation, we broke up into teams of four. Each team picked up their tools, put on their gloves and began the daunting task of planting oak trees along the boulevard’s shoulder.
On that hot afternoon, after a lot of sweat and more than just a few blisters, those 16 oaks got planted, mulched, and watered all in under 2 hours.
As tough as that day was, it’s sure to leave a lasting memory in the minds and hearts of all 20 volunteers.
For me, those trees will surely be a growing symbol of our accomplishments that day, but more so, what I took away from the day was the impact we made as a team by coming together and overcoming an unexpected challenge. That day individuals from each of the subsidiaries united as one, working shoulder to shoulder with enthusiasm and focus to accomplish a demanding goal.
As we face the recent challenges of inflation, supply chain delays, and the economic slowdown, it is moments like that September afternoon that provide reassurance that our family of companies have the resilience, focus, and dedication to overcome challenges in a positive and refreshing way.
Thank you to everyone that volunteered that day and thank you everyone for the contributions you make day after day in making our organization a successful and special place to work.
