National Projects

Disaster Relief Fund

Theme: Human Impact

Mother Nature challenges our families, co-workers, Retirees, and fellow Pioneers through natural disasters every year. Through 2014, this trend has continued, and many of AT&T’s Pioneers (both Retirees and employees) have needed support.

Thanks to your continued financial support, the AT&T Pioneers Disaster Relief Fund has been able to support those in need financially. Closing out 2014, the fund has:

  • Supported 6 FEMA-declared relief efforts
    • Reviewed 50 applications
    • Awarded $31,645 in 2014

Remember, your financial support keeps the Disaster Relief Fund available. Take a few minutes and make a donation here, either as an individual, Chapter, Council, or Club. As history has shown us, there will always be a need to support those affected by a disaster. Your continued support will ensure the fund remains available to those in need.

Pioneers Go the Distance for Charity Miles

Theme: Human Impact

The importance of “Living a healthy lifestyle” is a message Projects & Programs want to communicate to fellow Pioneers, families, and friends. With this in mind, we thought why not create a Pioneering program across the country that both encourages a healthier lifestyle but also helps you raise money for your favorite charity as well!  Pioneers Go the Distance for Charity does just that!

Go the Distance for Charity utilizes an app called Charity Miles which is available for download from the App Store and Google Play.  Simply download the app; follow the prompts to register, and create #attpioneers as your team.  When you are ready to exercise and Go the Distance for Charity, turn on the app, choose a charity, and press start.  As you exercise, the app will track your distance and you earn money for your chosen charity.

You must Go the Distance and get moving!  Bikers earn 10 cents a mile and walkers/runners/hikers etc., earn 25 cents a mile for their Charity. You must Go the Distance (in other words stationary activity does not work with this app).  When you are finished, accept your sponsorship, spread the word, and Charity Miles will confirm your good work.

Current charities to choose from include Wounded Warriors, Stand Up to Cancer, ASPCA, Autism Speaks, and many more!

Projects & Programs Point of Contact: Shirley Sanz (858-621 4681)

American Red Cross Blood Drive Initiative

Theme: Human Impact

In 2015 The AT&T Pioneers re-engaged in the ongoing partnership with the American Red Cross for blood donation efforts. Think about the impact that just one pint of blood offers (one pint of blood can save up to three people) that’s AMAZING! As Bob Cowgill (Projects & Programs Point of Contact) states it, “The ease of donating and the potential impact is so worthwhile I have made a practice of regularly giving blood. I give one pint of blood six times a year, each donation appointment only taking about 15 minutes. This means that for one and a half hours each year, I can help save 18 people! This simple act of kindness costs nothing but a small about of time yet can literally save someone’s life. Last year, AT&T employees donated about 5,000 pints of blood – that could save 15,000 people.”

Projects & Programs Point of Contact: Bob Cowgill

Turn-key Project Showcase - Feeding the Hungry – It’s Sammie Time!

Feeding the Hungry – It’s Sammie Time!

  • TURN-KEY PROJECT SHOWCASE – “Feeding the Hungry – It’s Sammie Time!”

“Feeding the Hungry – It’s Sammie Time!”

 

Contact Info:

  • Northeast Chapter 125
  • Terry Bailey
  • 315-569-8151
  • baileyt@twcny.rr.com

 

Project Description: Feeding the Hungry – It’s Sammie Time!

 

  • Our chapter makes 400 PBJs monthly for soup kitchens in Syracuse.
  • PBJs are made, bagged up and delivered to the soup kitchens.
  • Sandwiches are made by regular members, Life Members and many friends.
  • # of Pioneer Volunteers= 20
  • # of Pioneer Volunteer Hours= 60

 

Steps for Project:

 

  1. Contact a local soup kitchen to see if there is a need 400 sandwiches. This project takes approximately 3 hours and costs approximately $165.
  2. Determine a date, time and place to make sandwiches. (Could be a library, public access room or someone’s home.)
  3. Contact a grocery store to have 40 loaves of sandwich bread ready for purchase/pickup 3 hours before Sammie Time starts.  (Wegmans is great! They put the bread in 4 large boxes and that’s how we deliver them to the soup kitchen)
  4. You will need to put together or purchase:
  5. 10 table knives or spreaders (no cost, take them from home)
  6. 10 table knives or spreaders (no cost, take them from home)
  7. 6 charger plates or platters (no cost, take them from home)
  8. 2 large trash bags (no cost, take them from home…1 for trash and 1 for recycling)
  9. 3 plastic tablecloths (Great Value/Walmart brand)  $3
  10. 1 – 2 roll of pack paper towels (Great Value/Walmart brand) $3
  11. 425 sandwich bags (Great Value/Walmart brand) 1 – 300 box & 1 – 200 box  $10
  12. 7 – 64 ozs jars of Peanut Butter (Great Value/Walmart brand) $42
  13. 1 box of 200 Disposable gloves (Great Value/Walmart brand) $10
  14. 15 jars of Grape Jelly (Great Value/Walmart brand) $42
  15. 40 loaves of sandwich bread (Great Value/Walmart brand) $52
  16. 1 container of 100 disinfectant wipes (Great Value/Walmart brand) $3
  17. OPTIONAL – 425 labels on baggies noting PBJ, the date & AT&T Pioneers (This is for tracking in case of illness, nut allergies and to get Pioneer name out there) This also depends on dept of health rules in your area.

 

  1. Someone creates a Facebook Event. Invite volunteers thru FB, phone calls, text messages, email messages. Ask volunteers to bring their own aprons.
  2. Event day, 2 volunteers set up tables w tablecloths & place settings w/a paper towel/placemat, a knife, 2 gloves, PB & J & platters to share.

2 volunteers to set up, 1 runner, 2 baggers, other volunteers make PBJs 1 pb spreader & 1 jelly spreader work as a team. Finished sandwiches go on platters.

  1. Runner will replenish supplies at tables, collect sandwich platters and take them to baggers.
  2. Baggers put 1 sandwich in a baggie, then put baggie in a bread bag. Full bread bags go back in the box for delivery to the soup kitchen.
  3. Boxes are loaded into vehicle for delivery.
  4. Everybody helps clean up putting trash in one bag and recyclables in another bag.

 

Important Notes:  The Northeast Chapter has been running this project for close to 20 years.  The info above is to do the project one time.  Because this is a monthly event for us, and to shop wisely, we purchase sandwich bags, gloves, tablecloths, paper towels and disinfectant wipes in bulk. We have also purchased spreaders and aprons to be reused each time. The number of sandwiches varies depending on how many slices of bread are in each loaf and if the heels are used, hence the need for extra sandwich bags. We have a great relationship with our grocery store (Wegmans) and they have bread in boxes and in a cart ready for pick up when we get there. We order the bread 3-5 days ahead of the event. Once this project is established, it is easy for us to repeat it monthly.

Turn-key Project Showcase - ACH “Supper Club”

ACH “Supper Club”

Turn-Key Project

 

ACH “Supper Club”

Contact Info:

Texas Pride Chapter

Fort Worth Council

Cheryl Hart

817-246-3050

ckmhart@sbcglobal.net

Project Description: Individual and group volunteers provide a healthy portioned meal along with a fun activity to children, youth and families who call ACH home. Fort Worth Pioneers have participated in this project for several years, usually 3 or 4 times a year.  On average 20 -25 are fed (children, staff and volunteers at a cost of less than $200)

This supports ACH’s Pat O’Neal Youth Emergency Shelter at their Wichita Campus. The Youth Emergency Shelter or YES is the only youth shelter in Tarrant County that assists unaccompanied minors. The Youth Emergency Shelter offers 24/7 safety and care to youth ages 10-17 who are runaways, homeless or experiencing or at risk of sexual exploitation and/or trafficking. ACH works to quickly reunite them with their families or find alternative living arrangements.

# of Pioneer Volunteers – around 8

# of Pioneer Volunteer Hours – around 20

Steps for Project:

  1. In January each year contact ACH for the dates throughout the year.
  2. Two weeks prior, contact ACH about number to feed.
  3. Plan the meal. Supplies are purchased at local stores, Walmart usually has the best prices, but we do shop for sale items after we plan the menu. Snack items were purchased at $ Tree. If you did this more often and had the space you could purchase bulk.  In August we served Sloppy Joe’s, chips, watermelon, pickles and ice cream sandwiches.  Summer picnic, indoors!
  4. Volunteers divide the tasks, one of these is preparing the main entre. (no one person is doing everything)
  5. Arrange for a volunteer to plan some easy games for after dinner and purchase some prizes. Or in August they were watching a movie, so we provided some snacks for the movie.
  6. Purchase any needed food items for the meal.
  7. On the date of the event verify the number of children to feed.
  8. Make sure all volunteers will be there on time and they have their items.
  9. Serve meal and visit with the children.
  10. Clean up kitchen and enjoy games or time with the children before saying good bye..
  11. Gather and report hours.
  12. Post on Social Media
Turn-Key Project - Hygiene Pantry for Underserved K-5th Grade

Hygiene Pantry for Underserved K-5th Grade

Contact Info: Georgia Chapter

        Northwest Metro Council

        Diana Watson

        (404) 402-0487

        Dianawatson1128@gmail.com

Project Description: Hygiene Pantry for Underserved K-5th Grade

After speaking with an Elementary School Principal and Counselor in a low-income area, we learned that many children (grades K-5) come to school each day without having their daily hygiene needs met at home.  The NW Metro Council decided to pitch in by setting up a Hygiene Pantry at Allatoona Elementary School.

Setting up the pantry helped the children to be clean at school, made them feel better about themselves so they could become better all-around students. The pantry also relieves some of the financial burden from the teachers who were purchasing the needed supplies on their own. The project was so such a success, the council intends to make this an ongoing Health & Human Services project.

# of Pioneer Volunteers—6 to 8

# of Pioneer Volunteer Hours 25 to 30

Steps for Project:

  1. Select a project coordinator
  2. Determine a local school most in need of this project
  3. Set a meeting date/time to present the project to the school principal or counselor
  4. Select an appropriate space/area in the school to establish the pantry
  5. Determine the number of students to serve initially
  6. Quantities can be increased as needed
  7. Set a budget to purchase the items or accept donations to establish and replenish the pantry
  8. Purchase all items needed to set up the pantry
  9. Establish the pantry
  10. Determine the best opening date for both the school and Pioneer volunteers
  11. Have a school staff member check the pantry on a regular schedule to ensure all the needed items are readily available to the students
  12. Provide the Pioneer contact for additional supplies
  13. Set up a fundraising event(s) if needed
  14. If having a product donation drive, determine the number of building locations and secure a building coordinator for each collection site
  15. Get building approval, if needed, to post flyers and place collection bins
  16. Secure an onsite storage space for building drive donations to be collected daily
  17. Prepare a quantity log of items donated by products ( soap, toothpaste etc.)
  18. Prepare flyers to post on bulletin boards
  19. Post/advertise the project on the chapter/council/club social media sites
  20. Post volunteer opportunity on the AT&T Benevity site
  21. Get your membership involved by emails, text or word of mouth
  22. Have a volunteer log located in the pantry, if possible, so volunteer time can be report on site as it occurs
  23. Have one Pioneer volunteer to collect and manage the volunteer log to ensure the time is entered in Benevity or Volunteer Now monthly.
  24. Post pics on school and pioneer social media sites
Turn-Key Project - Digital Divide Project - Boys and Girls Club of TN

Digital Divide Project - Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee

TURN-KEY PROJECT SAMPLE

Contact Info:

Project Description: Digital Divide Project – Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee.

  • Our council used grant money from Community Engagement (CE) to fill 400 bags.
  • Bags included 4 pairs of wired earbuds, two snacks, technology-friendly gloves, and computer screen wipes.
  • The bags were filled by Pioneers at our Council meeting.
  • # of Pioneer Volunteers= 10
  • # of Pioneer Volunteer Hours= 20

Steps for Project:

  1. Contact the local Boys & Girls Club to see if there is a need for these supplies and how many children you will be able to impact.
  2. Submit an application for a Community Engagement (CE) Grant:

Check the Bi-Weekly Newsletter for the latest CE Contribution Application (TBD 1Q 2024)

Suggestion: Complete your application 2 months in advance if possible

  1. Obtain drawstring bags from AT&T External Affairs (when available) and

ordered remaining drawstring bags https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=drawstring+bags+bulk from Amazon (400 bags ~$250)

  1. Order from Amazon and our local grocery store the following items:
  2. computer screen wipes (~$245) https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=computer+screen+wipes
  3. earbuds (~$800) https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=wired+earbuds+kids
  4. technology gloves ($500) https://www.bing.com/search?form=MOZLBR&pc=MOZR&q=kids+gloves+touchscreen
  5. pudding cups ($125) https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=pudding+cups
  6. packs of fruit gummies ($100) https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=pudding+cups
  7. Stuff backpacks at monthly Council meeting
  8. Deliver backpacks to the Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee
  9. LOG ALL HOURS
  10. Post on Social Media
  11. Submit your report to CE (Diana Watson dianawatson1128@gmail.com)

Important Notes:

  • Links are for example, please shop for the best deals.
  • If a project is for a school, please mention items purchased are for students to take home for their personal use and not to remain at the school.
  • SUBMIT to be published in the bi-weekly report (this is also how you get credit on the SPARK): CommCommittee@attpioneers.onmicrosoft.com.

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