Building a Community to Reach a Community

Look for ways to be proactive and generous this year

My wife works at our church, where staff meetings  often reference the organization’s motto, “Building a community to reach a community.” It’s a simplified version of the church’s larger mission, and it serves as a constant reminder to focus its efforts on the things that bring people together in order to have the largest positive impact in our city. As I was writing this issue’s articles on Richco Structures (page 24) and Operation Finally Home (page 31), it struck me how that approach to community building is active in our industry and yields many benefits.

When Justin Richardson at Richco Structures approached me about the English language classes it was offering to its immigrant employees, I was intrigued, because the language barrier is a challenge more and more component manufacturers (CMs) across the country say they are facing. By taking a proactive role in lowering the barriers to English instruction (i.e., covering the cost of the instruction and offering it at the workplace during lunch breaks), they help those individuals to be not only more effective employees, but also more active and engaged members of their community.

The house we built for PFC Cody Nussbaum through Operation Finally Home (OFH) was the first BCMC Build project I was asked to help manage. Through that experience I met founder Dan Walrath, and through subsequent builds I met members of his staff, including Rusty Carroll, Molly Halliday, and Lee Kirgan. They are some of the most generous, loving, and practical people I have ever met. They see the acute needs of our veterans and first-responders and are committed to helping them with one of their most basic needs: shelter. OFH does not just stop at the house; they also work hard to rally the local communities around the recipients once they move into the neighborhood, so they feel welcomed and have a sense of belonging.

These are just two in a sea of examples where CMs have gone above and beyond to impact not only their internal community, but the broader community in which they live and operate. As we start this new year, take a moment to evaluate all the ways in which your company is serving its employees and its community. Recognize and celebrate those things. We also encourage you to tell us about them (editor@sbcacomponents.com). 

Also, look for additional ways to be proactive and generous, whether it’s through additional employee training programs, food and clothing drives, helping with local schools, or giving to organizations like OFH and the SBCA Foundation & Endowment. 

Sean D. Shields, Managing Editor