National Volunteer Week: Get to Know 3 Outstanding Employee Volunteers

At McCormick, we deeply value the spirit of giving back and actively encourage our employees to engage in volunteer work. Through McCormick’s Power of Giving program, our corporate, regional, and country-specific initiatives come together under one unified global umbrella to inspire and engage employees to support the causes they care about through matching gifts, volunteer time off, and community service. National Volunteer Week serves as a reminder of the importance of community service and the positive impact it has on both individuals and society. 
 
For National Volunteer Week, we're honored to feature a few McCormick employees making a difference in the communities where we live and work. 
 
1. Barry Spencer, Team Manager I - Production in South Bend, IN, is a local minister who, along with the help of his church community, feeds and clothes the homeless in the Michiana area. Since August 2023, the church group has gathered every Saturday to prepare food and beverages and provide new or gently used clothing. 

Barry and his wife personally purchase all of the new items, and he says this outreach has enriched his life by helping him realize how blessed he is. "I have gained a newfound respect and appreciation for sacrifice," he said. "No one chooses to be homeless, life and chance happens to us all. I realize that I could be on the receiving end of needing help. I hope that if I were, someone would be there to help me."
 
2. Lesya Smirnova, Quality Systems Manager in Lakewood, NJ, has only been part of the McCormick team for three months, but she's already made a big impact on the local community. Lesya volunteers with two organizations - the Help Ukraine Center of the United States (HUCUS) and the Watchung Reservation Invasive Plant Strike Force.

With HUCUS, Lesya helps provide humanitarian aid for people around the globe, especially in times of crisis. And on Saturday mornings, you'll find Lesya with the Watchung Reservation Invasive Plant Strike Force cleaning up trails and removing unwanted plants that threaten the natural habitat. Lesya says she "feels happy that I can contribute my efforts and make our neighborhood more beautiful and nature healthier." 
 
3. Keshun Mattire, Maintenance Mechanic II - Zatarain's in Gretna, LA, volunteers for the Salvation Army and is FEMA-certified. 

When disaster strikes the community, Keshun provides aid to the community by providing medical assistance, meals, and personal hygiene items to the homeless and those in need. When a local neighborhood was hit by a tornado, Keshun was one of the first to respond as a Salvation Army member. He says, "Helping others is who I am and what I do."
 
Thank you to all of our employee volunteers! Your dedication to giving back to our community embodies the spirit of generosity and kindness. Thank you for making a difference, not just this week, but every day. 

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