The Gift of Giving

By Brenden Nickels, Senior Office Assistant

Often during the holiday season, people seek opportunities to help those in need. Some make it a holiday tradition, and Kraus-Anderson employees are no exception. I asked employees to share some of their holiday acts of giving/kindness stories with me.

Here’s what they said:

Kraus-Anderson IT Department: “This year, our group donated Kraus-Anderson’s older, yet quality, laptops and phones to the organization ‘PCs for People.’ The nonprofit collects recycled devices, refurbishes the computers and phones, and distributes them to individuals, families, and nonprofits with low incomes. If needed, the organization also provides training on the devices. We phased out our desk phones over the summer and collected over 400 to donate. Our team dropped off the equipment in December. Kraus-Anderson employees are fortunate to have access to various devices and software. To provide a good computer to an individual in need of one is a great feeling. It can be life-changing for that person/organization. It’s great that these computers can still be used fully instead of being stripped for parts or sitting in a landfill. This holiday season, it felt nice to give back to the community, to offer access to technology and its many ways of making life more efficient for people in need. This is our first time working with ‘PCs for People.’ It would be a pleasure to work with them in the future!”

Alia Crockett (Project Coordinator): “I am currently making tie-blankets in honor of my long-time (28 years!) friend who passed away in January 2022 (she needed a second lung transplant and had gotten COVID). Her birthday is December 3rd, and in her memory, her mother asked if we could fund and make 50 tie-blankets to donate to the Jeremiah Program in St. Paul. My friend was a teacher and loved her students very much. She would make tie-blankets and donate school supplies to students before she got sick. We are trying our best to carry on this tradition in her memory. Additionally, every Friday that I pick up Starbucks, I pay for the person behind me. A small gesture can make someone’s day!”

Anonymous: “Each year, I head to the Mall of America for the ‘Giving Trees’ (right outside the door of Macy’s). Catholic Charities sets up several Christmas trees, decorating them with paper ornaments that contain information about their clients and what they need. The clients ask for very simple things that most of us take for granted. For instance, a card might read: ‘Male, Age 57, Size XL, Winter Gloves, Wool Socks, Winter Hat’ or ‘Female, Age 45. Size L, Flannel nightgown, Wool Scarf, Winter Gloves.’ You select an ornament, purchase the requested items, and then bring the items back to MOA along with the tag you took from the trees. Catholic Charities makes sure the recipients get the purchased items. It is anonymous for both the giver and the receiver. We pull four or five tags from the trees. Of course, we cannot forget our furry four-legged friends. We make sure to bring a couple of large bags of dog and/or cat food and treats for any animals that might be in shelters. We donate to Last Hope Animal Rescue, as well.  There are so many opportunities to help folks (especially these days). We never have a hard time finding places to donate to.”

Kraus-Anderson K-12 / Government Sectors: “Each year, our K-12 and government teams ‘adopt a family’ through the Hugo Yellow Ribbon Network, a group that supports military families in Washington County. The team, with Construction Executive and former service member Jason Rentmeester and Project Coordinator Kari Aufrere at the helm, collects donations and buys household necessities, clothes, groceries, and children’s toys/gifts. The team recognizes the holiday season can be challenging for some. It’s a collaborative effort and makes our group proud to work among such generous people who care about others.”

Danielle Pederson (Assistant Marketing Coordinator): “During the holiday season, my friends and I write letters to elders feeling isolated or alone. There are various note-writing programs online that will match you with a senior living facility or an individual, making it very easy for those wanting to get involved. I’m grateful to be surrounded by family, friends, and coworkers throughout the holidays (and every other time of the year). I realize not everyone is as fortunate. Letter writing is a simple and nice way to send someone an uplifting message during a potentially difficult time. Plus, it allows me to use my (very minimal) artistic capabilities!”

Anonymous: “Like many others this time of year, I donate to multiple nonprofits that are important to me. However, there are a few other impactful ways that I help people in my world throughout the year. These days, there are many people in need. Budgets can be especially tight for families nowadays. Some of the ways I gave back this past year:

• Helping a friend fix their car so they have reliable transportation to and from work
• Paying a friend’s rent when they get behind a month or two
• Sharing fresh veggies from my garden because food shelves don’t always have fresh produce

I never ask to be paid back, but ask my friends to pay it forward. When the tide shifts and they are prosperous, I ask them to bring others up with them.”

Rose Manthe (Executive Assistant): “Over the holidays, my heart goes to the ‘KA Has Heart’ volunteer program. I love to gather with KAers to make the tie-blankets for donation, whether we meet in person or from our homes by WebEx during COVID. Personal donations to various charities in need are also something I enjoy, usually to children-based charities.”

As a company whose mission is to “strengthen the communities we serve,” KAers go beyond. As evident in these responses, gestures of giving and kindness, both big and small, are the best gifts to give and receive.