ORBIS America successfully planned and executed two volunteer opportunities in 2025. Giving back to our community has been on our hearts for many years and although we have volunteered in the past, we decided 2025 was the year to make it a priority. These opportunities have given ORBIS America a new perspective on what is happening in our area. Our team plans to continue volunteering throughout our community for years to come.
Our First Volunteering Event of 2025
Morgan Rihn planned our first volunteering event, last June, at the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). This center provides supplemental groceries to families in the Arlington area. Everyone spent one afternoon helping the staff of AFAC pack dry goods (black beans) into individual portions to give to those families in need. Our team processed a total of ten 50-pound bags! Go team!
Team Participants: Achyut Koulgi, Ankush Shahakar, Klaus Schmidt, Kristen McNerney, Michael Winkelmann, Mike Davis, Nutan Kadam, Prachi Badave, Pravallika Mannuru, Rakshith Manjunath, Sudha Rani Pathuri, Sushmita Nawrikar, and Swati Devgan
Our Second Volunteering Event of 2025
We first heard about this volunteering event at the beginning of last year, but due to the nature of the project, we had to schedule it for the fall. Morgan worked alongside the coordinators at the McLean Trees Foundation to set it up for this past November! This foundation handles tree planting and invasive species removal in the area. A few of our team members assisted in the planting of tree and shrub saplings at Churchill Road Park and had a wonderful time. We plan to visit the planting site in the spring to see how much the saplings grow!
Team Participants: Achyut Koulgi, Michael Winkelmann, Mike Davis, Nutan Kadam, Prachi Badave, Pravallika Mannuru, Rakshith Manjunath, Sushmita Nawrikar, and Swati Devgan
Importance of Volunteering
Communities depend on volunteers to help keep their people fed and their amenities maintained. Without volunteers, these tasks would be incomplete! It’s easy to let projects, clients, and coffee consume your workdays, so we urge you to take a break from the grind and give back to the community that surrounds you. We never take our work or clients for granted, but giving back to the families and the communities that surround us fills our hearts in the best way. Here is your reminder to get involved in your community; they always need help! We look forward to volunteering more this year!
