When two Regal Rexnord volunteers arrived at One Mission Cambridge for their first shift stocking shelves and helping patrons at the local food pantry, they surprised staff with a $1,000 donation and hundreds of custom reusable grocery bags branded with the company’s logo.
Beth Hancock, senior human resources business partner at Regal Rexnord and community advocate, helped launch the company’s partnership after meeting Krista Pettit, director of One Mission Cambridge, through the Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce, where Hancock serves on the board of directors.
“Our associates receive 16 hours of paid volunteer time each year, and we’re always looking for meaningful ways to give back,” said Hancock. “One Mission stood out because it’s local, hands-on, and so deeply rooted in care. Everyone deserves to eat. Everyone is part of this community.”
On her first shift unpacking boxes at the pantry, Hancock had an idea to help the process and returned the following week with retractable box cutters and cut-resistant safety gloves—standard equipment at the Regal Rexnord’s manufacturing plant.
The value of community service for an organization doesn’t stop with skills, industry perspective, or time. New volunteers often identify unmet needs and find ways to meet them.
“It’s incredible how much more is needed, especially in cold months,” Hancock said.
Last winter, after witnessing shoppers arrive at the pantry without coats, Hancock asked Pettit what the greatest needs were and promptly organized a coat drive at the plant.
She placed a wardrobe rack in the Regal Rexnord atrium and announced to staff that they could hang coats there for donation to One Mission Cambridge. Staff collected and donated about 30 jackets.
“Good partners show up, notice, and solve problems,” said Krista Pettit, Executive Director of One Mission Cambridge. “Financial gifts are needed, and so are the volunteer hours.
“That hands-on connection makes a difference for everyone involved. Regal Rexnord staff saw what was needed and acted on it. That’s the kind of partnership that makes a difference.”
Regal Rexnord has a long history in Cambridge, where its facility manufactures architectural mesh (used in for stadiums, for one) and metal conveyor belts (used in the production process for Pop-Tarts and Ritz Crackers, for example).
Community service is core to Regal Rexnord’s culture, Hancock said. The company, with more than 140 employees locally, grounds that ideal with practical parameters:
- Staff members may use 16 hours annually of work time for community service.
- The company partners with nonprofit organizations serving various needs throughout the community. These include education, animal welfare, and community accessibility, among others.
- Each volunteer outing for One Mission is scheduled, and two staff members attend. This makes scheduling workflow simple.
“We always say—everyone has a little bit to give,” Hancock said. “You never know where life will take you, and it matters that we show up for each other.”
One Mission Cambridge is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, from 1 to 5 p.m. for services at 614 Race Street. For additional information, visit onemissioncambridge.org, Facebook, or Instagram. Donations can be made to One Mission Cambridge, P.O. Box 1495, Cambridge, MD 21613.
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