As I sit writing this letter, I am basking in the glow of the Impact COMO Awards luncheon. It was and always is such a very special time celebrating those that do the hard work in our community every single day to support and help those that need a hand up, not a handout.  

There are many unmet needs felt by our neighbors such as hunger, domestic violence, lack of shelter, lack of education or access to healthcare, those re-entering society after incarceration, those in need of love and parenting, and many more. When I moved to Columbia in 2005, I remember hearing people refer to Columbia as the ‘Tale of Two Cities’, essentially a city that had two very distinct realities as it related to access to resources. I didn’t really like hearing that. It sounded so cold and divisive, and all the people I had met were very caring, kind people. However, I have since witnessed how easy it is to go about our day working hard and taking care of our own families and not see those that are suffering right next to us. It’s not that our community isn’t kind or supportive. Quite the opposite. Columbia has a spirit of generosity and community service that is one of the primary reasons I love to call COMO home. The key is to show people where the needs are and to connect the agencies trying to help with those that have resources of time, talent, and treasure.  

This is where I’ve been called to help. We use the pages of this magazine to highlight a nonprofit every month, but in November we dedicate the entire issue to these amazing people. We hope that by telling the stories of the work being done and what’s left to do, people will be moved to join the cause by volunteering, donating money or items in need, or serving on a board of directors.  

This is where you are called to help. What can you do more of? Better yet, what can you help others do more of? As a business owner, I prioritize volunteering for our staff. We not only encourage it, but we expect it. I want each of our staff members to find a cause they personally care about to volunteer with in whatever manner they can. We give them paid time off to do it and support those causes with our services as we can. Additionally, as a company, we commit to giving 10% of our time and advertising space to nonprofit organizations.  

Here are some next steps that I encourage you to take. Send a survey to your staff and ask them what the issues are that matter to them the most. Arrange tours of organizations that address those needs, and then help make connections for them. It’s good for your employee loyalty and retention. It’s good for the organization needing help. And it’s great for our community. If you need ideas on where to start, enjoy reading the pages of this issue or go to ImpactCOMO.com for more ideas.