NIPSCO employees took time out of their busy schedule to brighten the lives of children in need by working with Toys for Tots for their third annual Hope for the Holiday toy drive and delivery.
"This is our third consecutive years that we have done this," says NIPSCO Spokesperson Tara McElmurry. "We've had holiday campaigns for a number of years, but this has been the third year that Toys for Tots has been the recipient."
This is not NISPCO's only form of seasonal charitable work, as the organization hosts year-round events that focus on giving back to the communities that they serve.
"We have events like this all year round for our employees to participate in," says McElmurry. "Our employees always feel the giving spirit and we wanted to give them an outlet to donate and give back to the community."
In order to gather this group of people to deliver the gathered toys, NIPSCO selected members of their NiVets program who were willing to volunteer their time to take part in this charitable act. The toys were delivered throughout NIPSCO's entire region.
Along with donating toys, NIPSCO provided other options for their employees to help give to the community and create a happy holiday for those in need.
"We have a core group who organizes and leads fundraising efforts beside this one," says McElmurry. "This gives employees other outlets to donate other than toys. We notice that these programs are very engaging and that employee engagement increases every year."
Besides the toy drive, NIPSCO employees also participated in a partnership with Albanese Candy for a candy tasting as well as selling holiday themed t-shirts which raised money for this event.
"We have received strong, positive feedback from both the employees and the community that has been touched by these programs," says McElmurry. "Everyone is very thankful and the feedback is always positive."
For NIPSCO, this is an event that continues to strengthen their ties to the community, bringing them closer to the ones they serve and letting them know that for NIPSCO, caring for the community goes further than providing a service.
"NIPSCO's purpose is serving other," says McElmurry. "Along with giving reliable gas and electricity, it's important that we are out there in other ways. Whether it's bringing needy children toys to our veterans programs, we feel that it's always a good thing to do extra."