Just before Thanksgiving last week, Kelly Petersen took her son Lucas, 7, to volunteer at the St. Louis Area Foodbank.
Alongside other volunteers, they sorted and packed the equivalent of more than 18,000 meals for people in need in the St. Louis area. For Petersen, the experience represented an opportunity to teach her son about helping others while also spending some quality time together.
“It’s important for me to teach kids about volunteering because it helps instill values like empathy, compassion and responsibility,” said Petersen, project manager on the enterprise growth team for Advantage Solutions. “I want them to understand that they can make an impact, big or small, in their community.”
The experience was also beneficial for Lucas, who’s educationally diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum, Petersen said. He enjoyed the hands-on work of packing and counting potatoes.
“He loves to help,” said Petersen, a mother of three young children.
At Advantage Solutions, we’re committed to serving with heart in communities across the U.S. and in Canada. Community engagement is a core pillar of our commitment to Belonging & Impact. And specifically, we focus our efforts on food security, economic mobility and well-being.
On a quarterly basis, we will feature one of our remarkable teammates as a Community Volunteer Champion. Petersen, who joined Advantage in March 2023, recently answered a few questions on what it means to give back to her community.
Q. Can you share more information about the nonprofit organization?
A. I volunteered with the St. Louis Area Foodbank, a key organization dedicated to fighting hunger in the St. Louis community and surrounding areas. They are a part of the Feeding America network, which allows them to provide meals and resources to individuals and families facing food insecurity. The organization plays a critical role in addressing hunger at a local level and creates opportunities for volunteers to make a meaningful impact.
Q. Why did you choose this nonprofit organization to volunteer with?
A. I chose the St. Louis Area Foodbank because of its strong connection to the community I live in and its alignment with Feeding America, which our organization has supported for a long time. It was also an opportunity to be able to volunteer and support an organization alongside other teammates from Advantage in the area. This is also an organization that has ample opportunities to volunteer throughout the year. I plan to do more and bring my oldest child, Lucas, to get him involved at an early age.
Q. What does it mean to you to exemplify the core value of serving with heart?
A. To me, serving with heart means being fully present, empathetic, and committed to making a difference. It’s about putting others’ needs before my own and ensuring that the work I do is driven by compassion and a genuine desire to help. Whether it’s packing potatoes or helping distribute meals, I see it as an opportunity to show kindness and care to people who may be going through difficult times. It’s about making a positive impact, even in small ways, while fostering a sense of community and hope.
