August 1, 2007: Washington, DC Salesforce.com employees Daniel Burton, Christina Major, and Anne Whiteford, along with some of their family members, came together to serve lunch to the homeless at So Others Might Eat (SOME) in our nation's capitol. SOME is an interfaith, community-based organization that exists to help the poor and homeless of Washington, D.C. Here's what they had to say about their experience.
"We served lunch to about 400 people. I shared responsibilities for the green bean patrol; Christina dispensed the bread; and Anne handed the full meal to the customers and processed orders. The customers were all ages, some women but mostly men. SOME is a very well-run organization. It knows the needs of the population it serves, and manages its operation with efficiency and decency. We were proud to be part of it." - Daniel Burton, SVP Public Policy
"I have been volunteering at SOME since I was in High School. The reason that I love volunteering there is because they are truly about improving the quality of life for the poor and mentally ill. A good majority of the people who work at SOME are past "guests," so they have true compassion for who they serve. The volunteer work there truly does make a difference in the community. My 12 year old daughter and 20 year old niece went with us. Christina's mother also helped us dole out the food! It was a great experience for them as well. I hope that we continue to participate on a regular basis." - Anne Whiteford, Senior Manager, Education Services
"I grew up in the DC area and have always been aware of SOME because of the great work they do, but this is the first time I have volunteered for them - it certainly won't be my last." - Christina Major, Senior Application Instructor
In addition to serving food, SOME offers affordable housing, job training, addiction treatment, and counseling, to the poor, the elderly and individuals with mental illness. DC area salesforce.com employees hope to come together and lend a helping hand at this organization every other month.
