Helping our community is at the heart of what our Associate Resource Groups (ARGs) do. ARGs are volunteer groups led by Blue Cross employees. They connect with others
based on shared interests.
Since 2018, the Allies of the Military ARG (Allies) has volunteered at Hastings Veterans Home to help with their spring cleanup. Allies volunteers landscaped and built raised garden beds for residents to grow vegetables.
In 2023, the Hastings Veterans Home harvested about 800 pounds of food. That helped in meal prep and saved $2,000 in food costs.
The most rewarding part of this project is being able to talk with the Veterans every year…”
“These Veterans have sacrificed so much serving our country,” says Nelson Schmidt, an Allies volunteer. “The most rewarding part of this project is being able to talk with the Veterans every year and hear how excited they are to get planting, and how the planting and growing process is beneficial to both their physical and mental wellbeing.”
Schmidt says that over six years, they have developed a great group of volunteers who are passionate about helping Veterans.
“We have loved partnering with the Hastings Veterans Home,” he says. “It’s an amazing feeling to be able to give back and provide them with something that brings joy and healing.”