At Blue Cross, we know better than most that health extends beyond the doctor’s office. That’s why we have a longstanding history of volunteerism. The heartbeat of our company is the desire to care for and support the wellbeing of our friends and neighbors. Our volunteer programs focus on the holistic health of our communities by working to alleviate some of the struggles of daily life.
The focus of every volunteer program at Blue Cross is to build a more equitable world by supporting those who are going through challenging times. It is a lofty goal, but the Heart and Hands program at Blue Cross shows that small steps have a big impact.
Heart and Hands was founded in 2011 by Deb Dagget, an executive administrative assistant here at Blue Cross. The goal of this volunteer program is to hand craft winter items for charities to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our community have access to them.
This past year, Blue Cross associates volunteering with Heart and Hands met virtually five times to work “together” on knitting, crocheting, or sewing various winter items. These items get donated to several different charities annually to ease the struggle to stay warm.
Dagget’s goal this year was to donate 100 warm winter items to local charities that have a direct impact on the community. Heart and Hands met that goal eight times over by donating more than 800 hats, scarves, and other warm items.
Jenn Sexten, a customer service representative and volunteer associate with Heart and Hands reflects on her experience this year. “It has been really fun and rewarding to be able to use something I do for fun to benefit others.”
Heart and Hands donated its handicrafts to American Indian Work Youth Enrichment, the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans and Bundles of Love. These organizations serve youth, babies, families, and veterans who are in economic distress, facing food scarcity, or are without homes.
Though the goal of Heart and Hands is to build relationships with the greater community, an added bonus is growth within the volunteer community at Blue Cross.