With Basic Needs Met, Students Can Soar
Aflac Incorporated's Employee Engagement Team's Philanthropy Committee at PLADS launched the Closet of Care initiative to support local students in need by providing essential supplies. The program aims to reduce stress levels in students, improve academic performance, and maintain their dignity. PLADS employees in Connecticut and Florida locations contributed generously, leading to positive impacts on the schools and recognition for their efforts.
03/13/2024 - 09:45 AM
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 13, 2024 / Aflac Incorporated
Originally published on Aflac Newsroom
Community giving, close to home - that's what the Employee Engagement Team's Philanthropy Committee at Aflac's Premier Life, Absence and Disability Solutions (PLADS) wanted. And they made it happen, streamlining the donation process so that they could more quickly get needed items in the hands of local students in need.
From vision to reality: Closet of Care takes shape
Employees in both the Connecticut and Florida PLADS locations rallied behind this mission. The offices in Farmington, Connecticut, and Plantation, Florida, each identified a nearby public high school with a high number of at-need students and began collecting school supplies, hygiene products, toiletries, snacks and clothing.
In that moment, the Closet of Care was born.
Since delivering the first batch of supplies to the schools in November 2022, the Philanthropy Committee developed a process to track inventory. Using it - and with continued, generous donations from PLADS employees - they continue to keep school shelves stocked.
No-shame participation
Closet of Care addresses studies showing children are better able to meet academic and achievement standards when not distracted by stress.1 With basic needs met - and discreetly - stress levels decrease, and students can devote their energy to academics and social development.
Focused equally on preserving students' sense of dignity and respecting their privacy, the schools created space for supplies and communicated to students that help was available free of charge.
As the partnership between PLADS and local schools grew, a faster and even more efficient delivery of supplies was needed. Now, PLADS employees can access Amazon Wish Lists for Bulkeley High School in Connecticut and Flanagan High school in Florida from their personal devices to order and ship requested supplies directly to the schools.
Both locations are seeing positive impact from the Closet of Care - in fact, Florida school representatives felt the program was so impactful that they nominated Randy Olivo, manager, Group Proposition Development, who assisted with the local program, for a countywide Community Involvement Award in the School-Based Partnership Category.
Learn more about how Aflac gives back to the community at Aflac.com .
1 Education Library, "Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs In Education." Accessed on Feb. 1, 2024. https://educationlibrary.org/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-in-education/ .
Premier Life, Absence and Disability Services (PLADS): Group life, disability, and absence services are administered by Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC), a proud member of the Aflac family of insurers. CAIC is not licensed to solicit business in New York, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands.
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SOURCE: Aflac Incorporated
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What is the name of the initiative launched by Aflac's Employee Engagement Team at PLADS to support local students?
The initiative is called Closet of Care.
What type of items were collected by PLADS employees for the Closet of Care initiative?
PLADS employees collected school supplies, hygiene products, toiletries, snacks, and clothing for the initiative.
How do studies show the Closet of Care initiative can benefit students?
Studies indicate that when basic needs are met through initiatives like Closet of Care, stress levels decrease, allowing students to focus more on academics and social development.
How can PLADS employees contribute to the Closet of Care initiative?
PLADS employees can access Amazon Wish Lists for Bulkeley High School in Connecticut and Flanagan High School in Florida from their personal devices to order and ship requested supplies directly to the schools.
What recognition did PLADS receive for the Closet of Care initiative?
Florida school representatives nominated Randy Olivo, manager, Group Proposition Development, for a countywide Community Involvement Award in the School-Based Partnership Category due to the impactful nature of the program.
