WellPoints’ Road Warriors turn hotel staples into shelter donations
Mikaila Adams
Associate Editor — OGFJ
With its headquarters in Calgary, multiple operations spanning North America, Tunisia, and South Africa, and clients in sixty countries, travel is commonplace for executives and employees of WellPoint Systems Inc.
The company provides software and related solutions to the energy industry; and through the WellPoint Connections group, provides goods and services to the communities in which it operates. The effort started with BOLO Systems before the company joined forces with WellPoint Systems. At the time, the group, aptly—named Bolo Connections, came up with the idea of keeping traveling employees feeling like part of the company, all the while helping out the community. When employees would travel, they took a piece of the road home to share with others.
This idea continues with WellPoint executives and employees who deem themselves the Road Warriors. Hotel—sized shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. are collected from business travels and donated to the Denver Rescue Mission in downtown Denver.
Founded in 1892, the Denver Rescue Mission is the oldest full—service Christian charity serving the poor and needy in the Rocky Mountain region. The Denver Rescue Mission exists to meet people at their physical and spiritual points of need. The Mission’s aim is to return the poor, needy, and homeless to society as self—sufficient and productive community members.
On any given night, there are more than 10,000 homeless in Metro Denver. Every night, the Denver Rescue Mission shelters up to 873 men, women, and children through its emergency shelter and various transitional living facilities.
The Lawrence Street Shelter houses roughly 200 men nightly, and can handle close to 300 in inclement weather. Meals and clothing are also available through the shelter.
Champa House is a long—term rehabilitation program in a residential setting, offering help toward self—sufficiency to single mothers and their dependent children.
Harvest Farm is a rural rehabilitation program for men. It is a fully—operating farm and ranch with food and clothing distribution, youth camps, and a fall festival with a corn maze.
The Crossing offers a long—term rehabilitation program for men; transitional housing for homeless families, single men and women, and program graduates; and temporary housing for interns and visitors.
Each is in constant need of toiletry item donations.
This Easter, the Mission will give away hundreds of Hope Totes — bags filled with hygiene items many of us take for granted. Large—size hygiene products are given to low—income families in transitional housing, while travel—size products are given to people in emergency shelter.
WellPoint’s Road Warriors program has been ongoing for roughly four years and has become a fixture in the hearts of the company’s workforce. “Even those who don’t travel donate items they receive but aren’t in need of — things like toothbrushes and toothpaste from dentist visits, or gifts of lotion and toiletries that they don’t need or won’t use,” said Rick Slack, WellPoint Systems’ president and CEO.
“We are very proud of the Road Warriors program. We have been able to contribute items from travelers and non—travelers alike to the Denver Rescue Mission. Helping those in need meet the basics of personal hygiene nourishes the body and the soul,” said WellPoint employee Toni Carpenter, who spearheads the program.