A Fine Tradition: Holiday Giving

The holiday season is much more about the gifts we give than the gifts we receive. A look some of the gifts that Xerox employees give.

Curated by Gregory Pings, manager, Content Marketing, Xerox

“It is better to give than to receive.” This proverb is much older – and much more rich – than the ad man’s plea to purchase more gifts. Giving of yourself and your treasure truly is a way of life. I asked my fellow employees to share with this blog which charities they support. Here’s a sample of their responses.

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  In Romania, where I now live, the biggest holidays of the year are Christmas and Easter. For Christmas, we usually have special donations for the children or elderly people in need. We either collect money or bring things, such as cloths, food, and toys, to be donated to an orphanage or a hospital. Also we have some programs that support kindergartens and schools by giving them Xerox equipment for their own use. Natalya Striganova, Communications Manager

• A number of us at Xerox and other companies in the Rochester (New York) area support an organization called Sample Soap. There are buckets with the Sample Soap logo at many Xerox locations and other corporate, business and educational buildings in Rochester. The Sample Soap organization has been in place more than 25 years providing toiletries to organizations with that need. We collect no money; only the toiletries that you may acquire which you don’t need. This is a year-round activity that provides tons (Yes, tons!) of product to shelters, soup kitchens and more in the Rochester area. I am a collector, a sorter and delivery person. My activities are about 5 hours a year. We have many hands doing this same activity. So little time, for so much benefit. Julia Walsh, Service Delivery Manager

• I just picked up my Angel Tree card today. It’s something I look forward to every holiday season. The gifts are distributed directly to disadvantaged children and adults through one of three non-profit agencies in our area. Kat Fischer, IT Service Delivery Manager

• I have supported the GALAXe Wrap & Shop event for many years. (GALAXe is an organization for Xerox employees who are – or who support – gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered people.)  Wrap & Shop a well-organized, fast paced process that delivers care packages to clients of Trillium Health, which provides care for people living with HIV. It’s one of my family’s favorite things to get into the Christmas spirit. My girls have joined when they can since they were old enough to carry the boxes, and they love navigating the assembly line with all the friendly and caring volunteers. Another awesome tradition is Operation Food Basket – 33 years of helping needy families in the Rochester area. Patricia Hill, Managed Print Services Insight Programs

• I support the local Toys for Tots campaign in Perrysburg, Ohio, with my son Zachary, a lance corporal with the 1^st Battalion, 24^th Marines Weapons Company. Toys for Tots is sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps. They collect and give presents to needy children all over the country. Stephanie Garcia, Dependent Eligibility Verification Specialist

• My husband and I support the Open Door Mission in Rochester, N.Y. The Open Door Mission is a Christian Rescue Mission founded to provide for the spiritual and physical needs of the impoverished and homeless men, women and children of Rochester, by restoring hope and changing lives. Cindy McReynolds, North American Finance

• My favorites are the Red Cross, because they are always into international situations as quickly as possible and reasonably good in terms of administration costs; the Salvation Army, which supports those less fortunate; and, here in Canada, the War Amps, which was started to help injured servicemen and women. They now look after all amputees, and they have astonishingly low administrative costs. David Hinton, Technical Service Representative

• I’ve been a volunteer at the local Ronald McDonald House for the last 13 years. The RMH provides a place where families of children being treated at local hospitals can find all the comforts of home, as well as the comfort of staff, volunteers and other families. During the holidays, I also participate in Operation Food Basket.  Sandi Alexander Tuttle, Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability, Internal Communications.

• The Greater Rochester Hispanic Association for Professional Advancement’s board is leading the first annual Toy Drive for migrant farm workers families in neighboring Wayne County, New York. This year’s goal is to provide gifts and winter gear for 60 children ages 1-14, which is up from our original goal 45 children. Maria Mercedes Nicolay (Chapter President), Accounting Analyst

• A group of friends and I participate every year in the Santa Claus parade, we dress as clowns and sell red noses. Just this weekend we raised $4,300 for the children’s program at Wellspring, a support group for cancer patients. Linda Emberley, Xerox Innovation Group Operations and Communications

• Each November in the U.K., there is something called Children in Need. Celebrities perform silly dance and singing routines to raise money for all the children’s charities across the U.K., well known and lesser known ones. This year they raised a record £31million ($50.75 million) on the night, which increases over the next few weeks. There has also been a huge donation push for the families of the Philippines, which has so far raised £39million in the U.K. Andrew Prior, Operations Manager

Use the comments section below, and let us know the charities and events you support in your area. How do you get involved in your community?