SCS Elevator Product Employees Give Back Through Volunteerism
April is National Volunteer Month, a time to celebrate and honor the selfless act of volunteering. First established in Canada in 1943, National Volunteer Week and Month first debuted in the United States in 1974. As a company, SCS Elevator Products believes in giving back to the community and does so by being involved in civic organizations, donations, and sponsorships to name a few. Many of our employees also believe in giving back by donating their time, talents, and resources and we would like to highlight a few of those employees.
Relay for Life
Deb Egan, a screen printer at SCS, has a long history of volunteering. For the past 11 years, she has chaired the Relay for Life Mississippi Shuffle. This event helps fund groundbreaking cancer research and patient care programs. In 2008 Deb’s mom, Kay Kuehl, developed breast cancer and Grandma’s Garden Gang was formed in her honor. Team members came together to host a garage sale each year and all the funds raised went to the Relay for Life Event. Deb’s “Why” for doing this is not only to honor her mother but also because “Volunteering completes who I am. People are living longer because of funding events like the Mississippi Shuffle raise so I know the time and money raised is being put to good use.”
Deb also volunteers at her church and was part of a pilot program, The Garden Project, which is a fresh food-sharing program. She helps with the church’s Christmas project that sponsors as many as 20 families to ensure they have presents under the tree. Each family receives toys for the children, provided by Toys for Tots, and then parish members donate items to ensure each child receives a new pair of pants and a shirt. Deb and her fellow volunteers coordinate, wrap, and distribute all the items.
Food Shelf
McKayla Muelken, production assistant and production auditor, started volunteering during college at the Bemidji Community Food Shelf. Here she would stack food and clean the greenhouses where they grow fresh produce. McKayla’s “Why” for volunteering is, “My parents have instilled the value of giving back to the community through coaching and participating on various boards. The food shelf was my way of giving back, and I plan to continue volunteering here at the Red Wing Food Shelf.”
Blood Donation
Process Engineer, Cole Majerus and Quality Engineer, John Miller give back by donating blood and have saved countless lives in the process. Cole has been donating through the American Red Cross since college and has donated over 20 units of blood so far. John started donating through the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor program almost 40 years ago and continues to donate today. He has donated an incredible 14 gallons of blood to this program.
Trade Organization
Administrative Assistant, Nettie Nelson’s volunteer efforts are focused on promoting and engaging youth in the agriculture industry at the local, national, and international levels. For many years she has been the secretary and treasurer of the Northern States South Devon Association, which promotes the development, registration, and promotion of the South Devon breed of cattle. In 2022 her home state of Wisconsin was the host state for the Junior National Show and Leadership Conference and Nettie was the coordinator for the entire event. She and her husband also donated a heifer to the North American South Devon Association’s Beef Experience Program, which in turn was given to a young man from Idaho. His heifer was the start of his own herd. Nettie has also been involved as a host farm for international and local tours and worked as the beef superintendent for 6 years at the Pierce County Fair. Her “Why” for volunteering is to “Expose and encourage youth in the South Devon breed of cows but also expose, engage and encourage in the agriculture business overall”.
We thank and salute the time and efforts of every volunteer. Remember it does not have to take a lot of time or special talents to volunteer. If you don’t know where to start, try looking at non-profits in your area as most non-profit organizations are always looking for volunteers. Find a cause that you can connect with personally and reach out to see what opportunities might exist.
SCS is the leading manufacturer of elevator jamb and cab braille and elevator signage in North America. We have built a reputation for designing and manufacturing the highest quality elevator signage, jamb and cab braille, elevator buttons, and more while maintaining industry-leading standards for customer service and on-time shipments.
