Concern for the community is one of the seven cooperative principles in which OREMC was founded. OREMC works to uphold that principle in numerous ways throughout the year—supporting schools, donations to local events and fundraisers, hosting our annual golf tournament, providing grants through the OREMC Foundations. Recently a dozen employees participating in a management development class had a more immersive experience.

Part of the program is to select and execute a community service project. Collectively the employees decided on two projects: construct and install little libraries at each OREMC office and volunteer at The Storehouse in Northeast Florida to assist in one of their food distribution days.

The OREMC Little Libraries are geared toward children’s books and free for any community member to “take a book, leave a book.” The idea is to share books and pass on the love of reading to aid in promoting childhood literacy. Each little library is located on a walkway near/leading to the front door of the office. The libraries are an extension of OREMC’s other literacy project, OREMC Storytime. OREMC Storytime is a series of videos available on YouTube featuring employees, board members and friends reading a children’s book and posing questions about the story for parents/caregivers to talk about with their child.

The second part of the community service project was assisting with the preparation of food distribution at The Storehouse located in Callahan, Florida. The Storehouse does two food distributions a month—the first Thursday from 10 a.m. – noon, and the third Thursday from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.—aiding 300-400 families in need each time. (thestorehousefl.org)

Sonya Cooley, an OREMC Member Service Representative working out of the Hilliard office, who made the arrangements for employees to volunteer noted, “I did not realize how massive the operation was and how much preparation went in to getting the food packaged and ready to hand out. And the fact that they are helping 400 families, multiple times a month was eye-opening in terms of the need in our Nassau, and surrounding, communities. I was so glad to help and would love to involve my kids and volunteer again.”

The employees spent the afternoon helping regular volunteers package the food donations for distribution. This meant sorting and packing bags of dry goods, meat, fresh produce and fruit. Many hands helped lighten the load, but all the employees were enlightened to of the extent of need within the OREMC communities, the amount of work that goes into actually getting the food ready to hand out, and the tireless commitment of The Storehouse’s regular volunteers.

“OREMC first became aware of The Storehouse through a grant request they made to the OREMC Foundation,” said OREMC Director of Communications & Marketing Michele Hutchins. “While much of the food is donated, there is always a need for specific items that financial donations help secure. To read about their operations on paper is one thing. To see it in action and be part of the process is a completely different experience and certainly provided a renewed appreciation of the volunteers’ dedication and commitment to making a difference in the lives of people in their communities.”

By the community, for the community. That is what the co-op spirit is all about.