As our fiscal year wraps up, Filament Essential Services highlights our most recent contributions to nonprofit organizations in our local community. Whether through donations or gifts or through direct employee participation in charitable events, Filament has helped several Lincoln organizations continue their missions. Despite the coronavirus pandemic making some events virtual, these charitable efforts continue to make a positive impact in our neighborhoods.
The engine that powers Filament’s community involvement is SOCIAL (Supporting Our Communities’ Initiatives At Large). Through SOCIAL, Filament employees are encouraged to volunteer their time and unique skills to benefit eligible organizations. SOCIAL presents a variety of charitable opportunities, including company-organized charity events, financial donations, non-monetary donations and other gifts.
Friendship Home Donation
This year, through her participation in Filament’s SOCIAL program, Joni Kral received a $500 award from Filament to donate to the nonprofit of her choice. Joni picked Friendship Home and presented the donation in person.
Founded in 1978, Lincoln’s Friendship Home has long been a refuge and safe space for victims of domestic violence and their children. The organization aids these families in several ways, including emergency shelter, transitional housing and crisis intervention services.
Virtual Pet Drive
Lincoln is home to a number of organizations dedicated to rescuing dogs, cats and other pets, helping them find new homes and/or offering other related assistance. For our 2021 Pet Drive, Filament chose to support the following outstanding local groups: Captial Humane Society, Lincoln Animal Ambassadors, ShelterMe Nebraska, Good Dog Rescue and The Cat House.
This year, like many other events affected by the pandemic, Filament’s Pet Drive was a virtual event. Employees had the option to purchase items on these groups’ wish lists and/or support them through a monetary donation.
Angel Tree Donation Drive
In an effort to spread holiday cheer, the Filament Angel Tree Donation Drive has been a resounding success for the past two years, even though it went virtual in 2021. The 2020 drive, conducted in December 2019, ended with 64 tags filled, equaling 132 gifts donated. For 2021’s virtual drive, Filament employees instead had the choice of supporting City Impact Gifts of Love or Community Action Partnerships. The virtual donation drive used online shopping lists to help with gift selection.
Nebraska Community Blood Bank Blood Drive
Donating blood is, of course, a life-saving gift that can be given year-round. The Nebraska Community Blood Bank has been serving healthcare facilities in several southeast Nebraska counties as an independent nonprofit blood center since 1968.
In addition to its four donation centers located in Lincoln and Omaha, NCBB regularly conducts both public and private mobile blood drives around the area to make giving blood convenient. Last year, 18 Filament employees participated in an NCBB blood drive, helping NCBB continue its work.
Junior League Jog 5k
Junior League itself has been active for over 100 years, and Junior League of Lincoln is one of two Nebraska chapters. The non-profit organization focuses on promoting and developing leadership in women through volunteerism and social service.
This June, celebrating its centennial anniversary, JLL hosted its annual 5k with a small twist. The event went “virtual,” as participants could complete their run anytime between June 12 and June 20, either individually or in small groups. It concluded with a wrap-up live on Facebook, which included a prize raffle.
Filament’s team of racers consisted of Amanda Bush, Lauren Dyer, Dan Kunzman, Vikki Lind, Sandy Parr and CJ Thoma, and we look forward to lacing up our shoes next year!
