Growing up, Greg Collins’ parents instilled in him the importance of giving back through service. Volunteering became part of his identity, and when Greg began working at Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), he soon found a way to continue to give back.
Greg began volunteering during his lunch hour at St. Francis House in St. Augustine, Florida. What he didn’t know was that FPL awards grants to nonprofit organizations in recognition of employee volunteer time through a program called Dollars for Doers.
It wasn’t until a colleague told him about the program, that he began keeping track of his volunteer time at St. Francis House. Through the logged hours, and thanks to the monetary donation of other FPL employees, the St. Francis House has received more than $1,200.
“Knowing that my volunteer time serves a purpose solidifies why I do this,” said Greg. “The company’s commitment to support the communities where we work and live makes me extremely proud to work here.”
The entire amount has been put toward providing food for the shelter. This translates to more than 9,000 pounds of food that has been used to fill the pantry twice, buy fresh produce for food boxes to be given to individuals and families, as well as food to prepare meals at the soup kitchen.
“Greg could be having lunch at work, but instead, he prepares food boxes for people in the community who are food insecure,” said St. Francis House Assistant Director Karen Hensel. “The best part is that he does it with a smile every single day, and that makes everyone around him feel good.”
Last year, Greg received the Young Leader of the Year Award at St. Francis House for his hard work.
The St. Francis House mission is to engage the homeless in achieving stability, self-sufficiency and a viable plan for their future by providing a safe, stable environment, access to essential services, supportive connections, and to advocate for changes that address the needs of the homeless population. The organization serves 56,000 meals a year and provides food boxes to those in need in the St. Augustine area.
