Corporate Social Responsibility: How NGO Partnership Inspires Your Team
February 26, 2021
I have worked with Dune Jewelry & Co—a company that creates Experiential Jewelry by capturing ethically sourced sand and earth elements from memorable locations around the world—for five years and a major factor in my pride as an employee is our commitment to social responsibility. Since Dune’s inception, we have partnered with some amazing organizations, each bringing something as unique as the memories we help capture in our bespoke jewelry. During our annual Giving Week, for example, we donate 15% of our sales to six different charities and All Hands and Hearts has been among these incredible causes for the past two years.
Since first learning of All Hands and Hearts through Dune’s corporate partnership, I have been in awe of the vital work they do to support communities in the aftermath of natural disasters. I always hoped one day I could experience a program—so, when a few of our team were invited to support their work as corporate volunteers in March 2020, I knew this was an unmissable opportunity.
Spending a week in Marsh Harbour, The Bahamas, on All Hands and Heart’s Hurricane Dorian Relief Program was incredibly immersive and offered an insight into the work being done that could never be gleaned from an email or video. It was a privilege to have my colleagues Brett, Georgia, Latisha and Mekah with me on what has become one of the most memorable and pivotal experiences of my life.
Every day, teams of volunteers set out to different areas around Marsh Harbour to help clear debris and restore homes, schools and community structures. Some teams were sent to muck and gut houses by removing damaged interiors. Other teams were sent to scrub the timber framing of houses to begin mold sanitation and prevent regrowth. There were teams repairing a school roof and teams supporting another nonprofit, World Central Kitchen, in preparing meals for community members. Needless to say, every day brought new experiences and skills to learn!
After work hours, getting to know volunteers and staff from all over the world with huge hearts and open minds was galvanizing. The collective work ethic, passion and camaraderie from every program member was unlike anything I have ever experienced.
The most humbling part of my time in Marsh Harbour was the resilience that resonated from the people living there. The community of Abaco (the island where Marsh Harbour is located) had experienced great losses but continued to move forward with hope. The local community cheerfully greeting us every day with smiles and kindness is something I will never forget.
As I reflect on my experience now almost a year on, volunteering for a week didn’t feel like enough. I found a love in my heart that I didn’t even know was there for the community and the amazing staff and volunteers’ rousing drive to support long term recovery. Working alongside the community in relief efforts, like the opportunities All Hands and Hearts offer around the world, makes you want to drop everything and continue to join the global effort. That’s why it means so much more to me, now that I have seen first hand how our donations are utilized on the ground, that Dune will continue to support All Hands and Hearts.
As corporate volunteers, we learned a lot about each other and ourselves and walked away with a great appreciation for the work All Hands and Hearts is continuing to do. We feel grateful to have an employer like Dune for providing this opportunity to help make a difference in Marsh Harbour. We urge other organizations who can spare the funds or staff to help All Hands and Hearts meet their commitments by making a financial contribution to their relief efforts or providing volunteer power.
When our CEO, Holly Daniels Christensen, first founded Dune Jewelry & Co. her inspiration was “Live for the moment, then take it with you.” I can see how I lived for those moments in The Bahamas and have taken so much with me—memories, skills and countless meaningful experiences. As we left Marsh Harbour last year, our corporate volunteer team found ourselves asking, “What more can we do to help?” Without this unique opportunity to support Dune’s social accountability, I doubt I would be as motivated to serve others as I am now.
Read more about Danielle and her colleagues at Dune Jewelry & Co’s volunteering experience on their blog. By purchasing a unique gift for a loved one from Dune, you will be supporting an organization that helps All Hands and Hearts continue our relief efforts around the world. You can even grab a little piece of All Hands and Hearts with sand from a beach close to our program in The Bahamas.
We are grateful for our corporate partners who work with us in strategic and creative ways to rebuild disaster-resilient homes, schools and community infrastructure. We truly couldn’t do our work without them. For ways to inspire your organization to take action, check out our Corporate Partners information, and share with the person responsible for corporate social responsibility initiatives and employee volunteerism.
