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Volunteer spotlight
It Takes a Village
United Way’s Week of Caring is one of the Bay Area’s largest corporate volunteer events, bringing thousands of people together to work throughout our community. Jo Esguerra Sevilla, a long-time volunteer, has racked up 665 volunteer hours over the years. She knows because her employer, Wells Fargo, keeps track as part of its commitment to community service.
Since Jo started at Wells Fargo nineteen years ago, she has participated in Week of Caring activities ranging from packing groceries for seniors to working the food bank to cleaning up Half Moon Bay. However, the majority of her volunteer time has been spent at her children’s school which depends on parent involvement to be successful.
According to Jo, giving time is important, especially in the down economy. “Because of budget cuts, some things just wouldn’t get done without the help of volunteers,” said Jo. “It takes a village, and even though you might feel like individual work might not make a difference, collectively we are having a huge impact.”
Week of Caring certainly feels like a village, attracting 4,500 volunteers this year. Many of those 4,500 work at Wells Fargo, Chevron, Bank of the West, and Enterprise Holdings. Wells Fargo employees get sixteen hours of paid volunteer time annually. The company also has awards, a volunteer tracking system, and donation-matching programs.
“I feel grateful to work at Wells Fargo where I can give back to the community,” said Jo. “I can’t give a lot in monetary donations, so I give in kind. In many ways, it’s better because you see the results of your work, and a smiling ‘thank you’ from the people you have helped.”
United Way has been running Week of Caring for twenty-one years.
