BuyAutoParts.com‘s Company Culture Committee set a modest goal of $150 for its recent Holiday Food Drive to support the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. Giving back to the community in which it works is a core company value and the food drive provided a great way to give back. But thanks to a little friendly competition and fun incentives, the local business soared beyond its initial goal finishing its drive with more than $1,980 in donations of cash and food.”Everyone here was all for it,” shared Darrion Bernaldes, a marketing specialist for BuyAutoParts.com and member of the Company Culture Committee. “Like a lot of people, I was really surprised with the level of participation. Our committee received several emails from our coworkers saying how much they liked this charitable opportunity. It was well received.”According to Bernaldes, the Virtual Food Drive element of the competition was easy and quick to set up. A Virtual Food Drive is an online platform that allows individuals and groups to help the Food Bank purchase nutritious food products by making financial contributions safely and easily online. The group worked with the Food Bank’s Development Associate Grace Harrison to customize its online donation platform.”Grace was great to work with,” Bernaldes said. “We asked a few questions, sent in our logo and we were good to go.”Once the Virtual Food Drive platform was set, BuyAutoParts.com organized a competition by dividing its 140 employees into teams. As an incentive to encourage participation, company executives committed to purchase lunch for the members of the winning team. Both food donations and cash contributions counted toward a team’s total. Bernaldes said the competition aspect was a key motivator for many of his coworkers to be generous and participate.The success of BuyAutoParts.com’s Holiday Food Drive has been mirrored by many other organizations. In fact, more than 100 virtual food drives have taken place on behalf of the San Diego Food Bank this fall and winter. The new, customizable platform makes it easy to set up, track and personalize a virtual food campaign. The new platform has been a hit with organizations big and small.”I have heard nothing but positive feedback about our new platform,” said Robin Skale, the Food Bank’s Food Procurement Coordinator. “It’s very easy and user-friendly. The individual company’s branding displayed on the webpage helps donors feel safe and secure about providing credit card information. The groups I’ve spoken with are also motivated when they learn that for every dollar donated the equivalent of five meals is provided to low-income community members.”The Food Bank sends a heartfelt “Thankful Thursday” thank you to BuyAutoParts.com and its employees for providing nearly 10,000 meals to San Diegans in need!We would also like to send this same sincere sentiment to all the organizations and individuals who have arranged or participated in a Virtual Food Drive in 2015. Your willingness to help our neighbors in need continues to inspire our work and makes a significant and positive impact right here in our community.If you or your group would like to set up a virtual food drive – the opportunity exists all year long, not only during the holidays. For more details contact Grace Harrison at gharrison@sandiegofoodbank.org or at 858 – 863-5130.Special thank you to the individuals, companies, schools and community groups listed below that have hosted a Virtual Food Drive for the San Diego Food Bank!Together, they have raised a collective 309,800 meals so far! Wow!Applied Data FinanceAudi San DiegoBabes and BrewsThe BerriesBeta Nu SigmaBiocomBuyAutoParts.comCharlie GlassCibus US, LLCCloud9 Real TimeCooley, LLPCUSO FinancialDelivered DishDesk HubDPR ConstructionErika UlringFish & RichardsonFolio DesignGage Elementary School, PTAGirlfriends CareHairstylist LolitaHighrank Gives BackHM Electronics, Inc.Homes Media SolutionsJerabek Elementary SchoolJohnson and Wood InsuranceJulie NguyenKaiser Permanente, La Mesa Medical OfficesKaiser Permanente, CSCKforce Staffing & SolutionsKyoceraLa Jolla PharmaceuticalLand Rover San DiegoLiana and Isabel PugaLions International, San Diego TFCNorth County A/E/C IndustryOld Aztecs Rugby ClubOtay Water DistrictPaul Hastings, LLPPoint Loma Nazarene UniversityPorsche San DiegoPrecision DiagnosticsQualcommResMedSan Diego Association of Diabetes EducatorsSan Diego Penn State Alumni AssociationSan Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University, ROTC DET 75San Diego Superior CourtSanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery InstituteSantacon 2015Savory GroupScripps Research InstituteScripps Research Institute, The Peter G. Schultz LaboratorySeaspineSequenom, Inc.Upper DeckVerimatrixVerint Systems, Inc.VICONVigor Systems, Inc.Wells FargoWells Fargo Advisors
