What's Happening

A Focus on Community Involvement

Phoenix Sky Harbor employees not only focus on providing excellent customer service, but also giving back to the community. On January 25, 30 City of Phoenix Aviation Department employees and their families volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul’s dining room.

Volunteers enjoyed the opportunity to help nearly 200 men, women, and children by serving a meal, bussing tables and other kitchen work. Many of the local residents who receive meals at St. Vincent’s are considered working poor and these meals give them the opportunity to use their money on other necessities.

This is the third time Aviation Department employees have served meals at St. Vincent de Paul. The events are coordinated through the Sound Insulation and Mitigation Services (SIMS) Program which has been highly involved with the organization after sound mitigating the Dining Room and Hall of Banners.

“This is an important partnership between the Airport and the community,” said Claire Stern, Public Information Officer for the Community Noise Reduction Program. “It gives us an opportunity to give back to the community in a very personal way.”

In fact, not only were those receiving a meal that evening extremely grateful, but so were the volunteers who felt the experience was very rewarding.

“We were all very touched at the end of the evening when the diners started leaving,” said Stern. “On their way out, many of them stopped to thank us individually for serving them.”

Find out more about the SIMS program.

Published: February 1, 2012