On December 22, 2022, just before the massive snowstorm hit the Midwest, Jaelin Roseman, Lynn Zettler, Laura Shanahan, and I had the opportunity to work at Second Helpings to prepare sandwiches for the local Indianapolis community. This was my first time working at Second Helpings, and it was a wonderful experience. I was blown away by both the scale of their operation, and how quickly and efficiently their team can work despite making hundreds of meals in only a matter of hours. Shortly after our arrival, we were put to work in the prep room to make as many sandwiches as possible; the goal was 1,400 and I think we got close!
The best part about working at Second Helpings was getting the chance to interact with the employees at the facility. I worked with a woman named Michelle who was employed at Second Helpings for a little over two years, and she couldn’t help but brag about Second Helpings’ work environment and how the organization gave her a second chance when she struggled to find employment. Second Helpings is without a doubt a well-oiled machine and is a company that’s very intentional about preserving food and giving back to the community.
With kindness being the company’s theme for 2023, I couldn’t help but think about the relationship between an act of kindness and the intentionality of the act itself. Kindness comes in many different forms, and I personally dislike it when I see people posting videos of themselves doing something kind for others. Sure, it’s a nice gesture, but the intention sometimes comes across as selfish. Often, it feels like the person posting the video wants others to give them props for being a good person. Being kind to others and volunteering is a sincerely fun activity and it doesn’t always have to be documented. As such, the frequency with which we choose to volunteer shouldn’t be limited either. I feel incredibly privileged to work for a company that makes volunteering a priority, and I hope to use my experience from Second Helpings to volunteer more throughout the year. Here’s to being kind and being intentional about it!
Connor has over 4 years of experience in real estate. In his previous positions, Connor worked in the field of commercial real estate. Most recently, he leased shopping centers in Indianapolis, Chicago, and South Bend, IN representing a real estate investment trust.
