(left to right) GSF’s Scott Van Lue, Transportation Manager and Cliff Anderson, Warehouse Manager, deliver winter coats to the Community of Hope in Garner, North Carolina
On December 12, Santa and his elves delivered approximately 80 winter coats to the Community of Hope in Garner, North Carolina, a community center where individuals can go to receive food and clothing for their children and family.
This was the first time that the Garner facility held a friendly competition between the Warehouse and Transportation departments, in support of the Coat Drive. Each department was tasked with donating as many coats as possible. The department that donated the least number of coats would have to dress up as Santa and deliver the coats.
“It was a great time watching to see which department would win,” said Jim Brooks, General Manager of GSF Garner. “The Transportation Department donated the most coats, leaving the Warehouse Department to take on delivering the much needed coats to these wonderful children. There were only winners in this competition—given that the “losers” probably had the most fun and rewarding job of all!”
Cliff Anderson, Warehouse Manager, along with Gregg Tarlton, Assistant General Manager, played the role of Santa, while Walter, Wallen, Operations Mgr., Tim Mathias, Warehouse Supervisor, and Donnie Little, Warehouse Supervisor, played the part of Santa’s elves. And even though he was with the “winning” team, Scott Van Lue, Transportation Manager, went along on the trip to take pictures and participate in spreading Christmas cheer.
The visit to the center proved to be most meaningful when seeing the smile on all the mothers’ faces when they received new coats for their children. This proves that a little friendly competition goes a long way to help support children in need in our community.