Symetra Week of Service’ Volunteers give back at Hopelink Food Bank in Shoreline

Symetra volunteers at Hopelink
Photo by Larry Gill

Nearly 500 employees from Bellevue-based Symetra mobilized around the Puget Sound region — and across the country — in support of local communities during the sixth-annual “Symetra Week of Service,” held July 7-11.

Wearing vivid blue ‘Symetra Volunteer’ T-shirts, employees logged nearly 1,900 hours over five days to help clear trails, landscape, stock foodbanks, assemble emergency preparedness kits, tutor kids, paint, clean and organize on behalf of 34 nonprofit organizations—23 around the Eastside and in the Greater Seattle area.

Photo by Larry Gill at Hopelink

Hopelink’s food bank facility in Shoreline drew an enthusiastic crew of Symetra volunteers. Collectively, five employees contributed 15 hours of manpower on July 10 — helping to clean, sort food donations and stock shelves.

“Giving back to the communities in which we live and work is part of the fabric of Symetra and a core value our employees have wholeheartedly embraced,” said Tom Marra, Symetra president and CEO. “This much-anticipated annual tradition gives us a chance to connect with our colleagues, join forces to help our nonprofit partners who do so much good and make a positive impact in our communities through hands-on service.”

Symetra Week of Service began in 2009 with 130 employees in the company’s Bellevue headquarters volunteering at seven area projects. Since the program’s inception, Symetra employees have contributed nearly 8,300 Week of Service hours.

To see more of Symetra’s 2014 Week of Service volunteers in action, visit Facebook. Learn about the company’s community programs here.