Williams-Sonoma Works to Ensure No Kid Goes Hungry
Posted by Bekah Meyerowitz on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Hundreds of people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with one another around the entrances to the auditorium, awaiting the opening of the doors. The scene buzzes with giddy chatter and laugher, as people wave glowsticks and pennants in the air in anticipation of what awaits. As the hour strikes and the doors to the hall swing open, the energy of the group dials up even more and, in a mad rush, the crowd floods inside, cheering and dancing as they find their seats.
Where am I, you ask? Not at a concert or new club opening. Believe it or not, I am at the Williams-Sonoma, Inc.’s General Managers Conference, a gathering of all of the regional and store managers from Williams-Sonoma’s 260 stores nationwide, along with their sister brands.
The enthusiasm and pride is contagious, even to us outsiders. My colleague and I are here as representatives of Williams-Sonoma’s partnership with Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® Campaign, and at times, we find ourselves completely swept up in the excitement.
But what truly struck us was that the enthusiasm we were witnessing seamlessly translated into genuine and heartfelt support for the cause. This team of hundreds of people was authentic and passionate in its commitment to impacting our work to end childhood hunger in America. Williams-Sonoma President Richard Harvey gave an inspired and deeply moving call-to-action to his employees, impressing upon us the company’s real valuation of corporate citizenship. More than 300 people took the No Kid Hungry Pledge, adding their voices to this important movement and promising to spread the word as leaders in their communities.
Williams-Sonoma will invite its customers to be a part of the partnership as well. From August 8 through August 28, customers will be asked to donate to No Kid Hungry at the registers in Williams-Sonoma stores. And on August 20, all stores will host a cookie decorating event for kids; for $5, families will receive two cookies to decorate and a comic book, and funds raised willbenefit No Kid Hungry. The partnership continues through the end of the year with a portion of the proceeds from three special products featured donated to the No Kid Hungry Campaign.
This partnership might have begun with the support of Williams-Sonoma’s executives, but is flourishing thanks to their employees, sales associates and customers. Together, we will work to ensure our unwavering goal, No Kid Hungry.
August 17, 2011 | 1 comment(s) | Tags: no kid hungry, partnership, williams-sonoma
Comments
1 reader comment so far.
This is a travesty that children go hungry. Parents who need help need to ask for help and we need to teach people to make their own food. Two generations of fast foodies and nobody makes dinner, or for that matter breakfast. If it wasn't for school lunches, some kids would never get fed.
Posted by Leigh on August 17, 2011
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