MaryJo M., RD, LD, a District Manager with Aramark Student Nutrition, has been at the company nearly 38 years and has always made giving back part of her mission.

“I started with Aramark in 1985 and started volunteering almost from the beginning. It wasn’t called Aramark Building Community then, but that’s where our hearts were. Every time we had a client event, we would make sure there was a charitable or volunteer component attached.”

MaryJo grew up on the south side of Chicago, and much of her volunteering has been focused in areas in and around the city.  In addition to making an impact in her community, she feels that the collaboration with other Aramark employees has been incredibly valuable to her over the years.

“ABC Day events expose you to people from several lines of business. You could be there with a hammer in your hand but learn so much from the conversations happening around you. It’s a day unlike any other when you’re totally dedicated to giving back to the community. You do other things in your normal job. This day, your time is spent giving back.”

Adrienne M., Human Resources Manager with Aramark Collegiate Hospitality at Mississippi State University (MSU), began leading the dining services team in community service projects shortly after she joined Aramark in 2014.

Adrienne and her Aramark team often partner with Starkville Strong, a nonprofit organization located in their local MSU community that helps others find and maintain stability by focusing on food insecurity, homelessness, housing insecurity, and community advocacy.

“There are a lot of different needs in our community. We donated a grant to Starkville Strong and prepared ‘joy packs’ for the holidays that had food, personal hygiene products, and winter clothing. This year for ABC Day, we’re volunteering at their food pantry.”

During last year’s water crisis in Jackson, her team partnered with the university to donated bottled water to those lacking access to clean water. They’re currently exploring ways to help people being impacted by recent storms in the area.

“I never underestimate finding ways to connect Aramark to the community. Many people don’t realize Aramark is in so many places — and our people are volunteering around the world. Community partners are ‘wowed’ by it. Employees are inspired by it. New students at our university connect to it. We all get busy with work and our lives. Sometimes we have to stop and ask, ‘How else can we make an impact?’”

A leader at Aramark for 26 years, Carl Mittleman, Chief Operating Officer, Aramark International, never hesitates when it comes to giving back on Aramark Building Community Day.

“ABC Day is one time of year when we come together from different lines of business, with different roles and backgrounds, and work to focus on a common goal. Whether we’re refurbishing a community center, or working in a neighborhood, or providing healthy meals to people, it’s a very rewarding experience.”

Mittleman lives with his family in Denver, so volunteer projects in that city are near and dear to his heart. This year, he will be volunteering with the Southwest Improvement Council (SWIC) in Denver, where he had his first Aramark Building Community Day experience.

“The personal satisfaction you get from volunteering and working on projects is significant. To see the looks on the faces of the people in the community — the kids seeing the gym you just re-painted and the gratitude from the community leaders — it’s all incredible.

Aramark Building Community Day is a time when work becomes second and communities come first.

“I encourage all my colleagues to get out and volunteer on an Aramark Building Community project. Anyone can give up a few hours of their day to make someone’s life better.”