Volunteering in all shapes and forms strengthens our communities, brings people together and provides us with valuable experience and insight. As I reflect on what it means to give back, I realize how lucky I am to work at a company that prides itself in not only going above and beyond for clients and employees, but also in going above and beyond for its community.

PANcares, our corporate philanthropy program, allows us to give back by offering our services and supporting a cause that impacts so many young people across the country and in our local communities. Last month, PANcares partnered with MA Coalition for the Homeless, whose mission is to eradicate homelessness within the state of Massachusetts. Twenty-two other PAN employees and I had the opportunity to build beds for families living in severe poverty through the A Bed for Every Child Program. For me, the most memorable part of the experience was building each of the beds from scratch, sanding them, and painting them by hand.

At the end of the day, we walked away knowing that we gave 12 beds to children who needed one. This activity will not only impact those who are receiving beds, but it will impact every PAN employee who was able to build a bed for a child in need. This opportunity has allowed us to do our part and give back to our community. It has also given us the ability to practice working together and learning more about our colleagues outside of a corporate setting.

As we look ahead to the holidays, we remember that this is the time of year to give thanks. This season, I challenge you to not only be thankful, but instead give back to others within your community. Whether it’s participating in a local food drive, volunteering at a homeless shelter or donating blood through the Red Cross, there are countless ways you can get involved. It is my hope that these opportunities will allow you to feel the same satisfaction and overwhelming sense of happiness that I did when I was building a bed for a child in need.

For me, I’m so grateful to work at PAN, where the opportunity to give back was brought directly to me through our PANcares program. Not only was the experience humbling and important to me personally, it was a great opportunity to connect and team build with my colleagues outside the four walls of the office. Working directly alongside PAN’s President and CEO, Phil Nardone, and other members of the executive team, I felt the camaraderie as we all worked together to give back in such a hands-on, meaningful way.

Stay tuned for more updates on PANcares by following along on our Twitter feed @PANcomm. If you’re interested in working with us at PAN and getting involved with PANcares, reach out to us at info@pancomm.com.