Sometimes the best way to honor a tragedy is to respond with action.
That’s exactly what Tower Federal Credit Union employees did last week, transforming the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance into a full week of rolling up their sleeves for the community.
From surprising local firefighters with lunch to prepping pajamas for hospitalized kids, Tower’s team fanned out across the Baltimore area to support the people and organizations that make their neighborhoods tick.
A Week’s Worth of Good Work
Here’s what Tower employees accomplished during their volunteer blitz:
- Surprised first responders at eight local firehouses with thank-you lunches on September 11th—because gratitude tastes better when it comes with a meal
- Rolled and packaged over 200 pairs of brand-new pajamas for children in local hospitals through Casey Cares Foundation
- Organized a whopping $10,000 worth of sports equipment destined for Baltimore City kids through Leveling the Playing Field
- Prepped 500 books for military families by adding stickers through United Through Reading
- Put together financial literacy materials for young people via Junior Achievement of Central Maryland
- Cleaned up and maintained the grounds at Maryland Therapeutic Riding, where injured soldiers and Veterans receive equine therapy
- Sorted donations at three Maryland food banks to help tackle food insecurity
Partners Weigh In
The organizations on the receiving end of all this enthusiasm had plenty of good things to say. Erin Ritter, Deputy Associate Director at Casey Cares Foundation, noted how the Tower team “brought such energy” to their mission. “They jumped right in to roll and pack pajamas, turning their team-building experience into something that will have a real impact on children in hospitals and their families,” she said.
Over at United Through Reading, Program Coordinator Mandy Disney expressed similar appreciation: “Their effort in preparing 500 books ensures that local military families will stay connected through the power of story time.”
Making Volunteering Part of the Job
This kind of community involvement isn’t a one-off feel-good PR stunt. Tower actually bakes giving back into their employee benefits through the Tower Gives Back program. Full-time employees get up to 16 hours of paid time off annually specifically for volunteering with charities supported by the TowerCares Foundation—the credit union’s philanthropic branch.
Think of it as PTO with purpose.
“We’re grateful for every employee who chose to give their time and energy to help others as part of the 9/11 National Day of Service,” said Rick Stafford, Tower’s President and CEO. “We’re also thankful for our first responders and charity partners who make our neighborhoods stronger every day.”
Service as Remembrance
The 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance—also called Patriot Day—gives Americans a chance to honor not just those who died on September 11th, but also the first responders, recovery workers, volunteers, and military members who answered the call in the days, months, and years that followed.
It’s about channeling grief and remembrance into something productive and forward-looking.
“On 9/11 and always, we remember those we lost and honor the brave people who stepped forward to help others,” Stafford added. “We are proud to offer our employees an opportunity to carry that spirit of service forward by giving them paid time off to support causes they believe in.”
In other words: when faced with darkness, turn on a light. Or in this case, turn on several lights across multiple communities. And maybe deliver some sandwiches to your local fire station while you’re at it.