BVM Employees Reflect Sisters’ Mission, Values
The Working Unitedly (WU) employee team of the Sisters of Charity, BVM at Mount Carmel in Dubuque, Iowa, knows how to make a difference!
Organized in 2015, the group plans outreach activities that reflect the BVM core values and engage fellow staff members. They brainstorm and implement projects, add a little competition and fun, and unite employees through service to local community causes.
In the past year, WU has provided supplies to Dubuque shelters for homeless women and children, and prepared and served a meal at another local shelter. With money raised from a “premium parking” raffle at Mount Carmel, they helped sponsor three employee teams for “Trivia Night,” a fundraiser hosted by an area nonprofit charity.
From book drives to benefit local elementary school students to a blood drive at Mount Carmel, the WU team has motivated others to pitch in and donate.
Raising awareness of Alzheimer’s disease is a cause near and dear to the BVM sisters’ hearts. WU sponsored a mini-walk at Mount Carmel that capped a week of good-natured, earnest competition as employees on different teams raised funds in a “Champions for Change” challenge. WU raised nearly $4,300, presented in a check to the Dubuque Alzheimer’s Association.
During breast cancer awareness month, pink carnations and lemonade were sold, along with chances for a premium parking spot. Proceeds of over $600 went to a local salon to provide 20 wigs to women with cancer.
The Working Unitedly group rounded out the year with a food drive, donating 20 boxes of nonperishables to the Veterans Affairs Office for local veterans and their families. In all, Working Unitedly raised over $5,000 in 2017, in addition to the books, supplies, food, blood, and hours of time donated.
Not one to rest on their accomplishments, the team kicked off the New Year with a “Souperbowl Cook Off” in which staff contributed a variety of soups and chilies to be shared and judged by a panel of discerning experts at Mount Carmel! The winners took home “Golden Ladle” awards and nearly $450 was raised to provide a meal for a local shelter.
Want to see the group in action? Check out our photos!