Nearly 4,000 students in more than 30 communities in the U.S., Ireland, and Chile received a little help getting ready to go back to school this year.
Aramark volunteers, including members of the company’s employee resource groups (ERGs) and regional Star Teams, assembled backpacks full of school supplies, distributing them to families through local nonprofit community organizations, including Boys & Girls Clubs. This is the fourth consecutive year the company has led these back-to-school events.
“Of all the events we have had over the last few years, I would say this one was the most successful as we had a huge influx in community participation and need. This was only made possible through Aramark's continual support of our families and communities that need us most.”
“Our employees are passionate about giving back and it is great to see these back-to-school events continuing to grow each year,” said Joel Hernandez, District Manager, Aramark Healthcare+.
A key member of Aramark’s Impacto ERG, Hernandez, in partnership with Aramark LEAD ERG, helped initiate the first back-to-school project in 2021.
Last year, the backpack event mobilized about 700 employees to reach nearly 2,200 students.
This year, more than 1,139 volunteers:
- Distributed 3,890 backpacks;
- Donated over 36,000 school supplies;
- Served 4,075 meals and hosted two healthy cooking demonstrations;
- Reached 26 communities around the world; and
- Worked with dozens of nonprofit and community organizations including eight Boys & Girls Club locations.
“These back-to-school events are a great demonstration of the Aramark Building Community work we do year-round,” said Kirsten Markovich, Community Relations Director. “We continue to find meaningful ways to collaborate and create positive impact in our communities.”
To help gather the backpacks and supplies, Aramark held a virtual back-to-school drive during which employees from across the U.S. purchased and donated over 1,000 school supplies.
“We have partnered with Boys & Girls Club on the south side of Indianapolis for the past three years. Back to school is an especially hard time for their school families. Each year, more and more Aramark employees join the event. Everyone brings high energy and positive vibes and we look forward to it every year!”
Activating the Power of Employees
The backpack events were led locally and regionally by employees active in Aramark’s 11 ERGs, including:
- Amplify
- Aramark Young Professionals (AYP)
- Empower
- Impacto
- Leaders and Employees of African Descent (LEAD)
- Nourish
- Pride
- Rising Sun
- Salute
- Synergy
- Thrive
ERG members work across Aramark businesses and geographies to give voice to the diverse communities that make up the company’s workforce, create more inclusive workplaces, and help support and empower people in the communities in which they live and work.
Local ERG Highlights
In Miami, FL, Empower ERG worked closely with Aramark Corrections and the local Star Team to help distribute 500 backpacks to students at Branches’ annual Back to School Bash. The nonprofit provides opportunities to families and their children to help them break the cycle of generational poverty. Aramark recently received special recognition from Branches for more than 10 years of support.
In the Washington, DC/Northern VA area, Empower ERG worked closely with Aramark Workplace Experience Group and the local Star Team to provide school supplies to students through Comfort Cases, a nonprofit organization that bring dignity and hope to youth in foster care.
In Lewisville, TX, the teams from Aramark Student Nutrition, AYP ERG, and the Lewisville Independent School District Lovepacs program distributed backpacks through the nonprofit Journey to Dream.
In Houston, TX, the LEAD ERG coordinated backpack assembly and distribution with team members from Aramark Healthcare+, Aramark SeniorLife+, and the local Star Team. About 50 backpacks were distributed to students through Boys & Girls Club of Houston. Read more.
