Although MICROMINE has grown to be a successful worldwide business, offering software and services to global mining markets across 18 countries, we cannot forget that it is still a family-owned and operated business. With this humbling foundation comes a fierce dedication to keeping a positive company culture.
One of the key tactics MICROMINE uses to strengthen corporate culture is through purpose-driven work, such as volunteering. Not only does volunteering for a cause boost morale and productivity, but it also provides perspective for our employees.
The team at MICROMINE Vancouver decided early on that they wanted to spend time volunteering and helping an organization that tackles a significant problem in their city, homelessness. Over the years, the number of people living on Vancouver streets has fluctuated dramatically, with the total number of people experiencing homelessness being two percent higher this year than in 2017. The two leading causes of homelessness in Vancouver are lack of jobs and a high cost of housing, with Vancouver surpassing Toronto in 2017 as Canada’s most expensive city to live in.
The Salvation Army Harbour Lights, situated in the heart of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, provides programs that attend to the spiritual, social, physical and psychological well-being of the individuals who are shelterless, incarcerated or whose lives have become dysfunctional because of addiction to chemical substances.
MICROMINE Canada began working with The Salvation Army Harbour Lights in early 2017, helping plate and serve lunch to the homeless several times a year. Harbour Light’s community meal program provides nutritious free meals for men, women and children in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. This program serves over 400 meals, ten times a week with the support of volunteers and donors from the community.
One of the best parts of our volunteering experience has been the ability to volunteer alongside individuals who have been, and currently are enrolled in the Salvation Army’s many assistance programs. Programs include detox, addiction treatment, work experience, chaplaincy and pastoral care and many others. The Volunteers Work Experience Program assists Harbour Light clients in gaining transferable job skills and work experience through volunteer work, training and education. Our team has met many fascinating individuals while volunteering, hearing stories about their times on the streets or when they were incarcerated and how they were able to turn their life around with the help of organizations like The Salvation Army.
MICROMINE Canada always leaves The Salvation Army Harbour Lights with a new sense of gratitude and motivation. By combining volunteering with coworkers, we have developed stronger relationships in the workplace and are proud to work for an impact-minded company.
