Inspiring Belonging, Impacting Communities

In the right environment, a seed will bloom into a tree – rooted, resilient and capable of changing its surroundings for the better. ESFM team members are those seeds.

Across the country, ESFM teams are putting down roots in their hometowns and neighborhoods through small gestures and large-scale projects to show a deep commitment to community.

April marked Compass Group USA’s Inclusion & Impact Month, a time of reflection and service. ESFM embraced this call to action to invest in people and places that need it most.

In New Jersey, a team member helped give away 500 tree saplings to town residents.

In San Francisco-area, ESFM team members partnered with a life sciences client to remove 1,060 pounds of waste from the Bay Trail. The cleanup, now in its fourth year, has grown into a broader movement.

“It’s heartwarming to witness the ripple effect of our cleanup activity as other companies now joined in on this mission,” Unit Director Carla Gonzalez said. “There’s a profound sense of pride I feel in uniting our community towards a greener future. The positive impact makes this one of my favorite activities to lead.”

A team in Puerto Rico brought dignity and hope to abuse survivors by collecting boxes of hygiene items and several bags of clothing for a local safe house.

“We understood that a small token can become a big difference in someone else’s lives,” Unit Director Yolanda Rivera said.

In Eastern Michigan, ESFM team members used their volunteer time off benefit at a food bank, processing and sorting 20,000 pounds of food, which will feed 2,000 families in need.

These are more than volunteer projects. They’re proof points of ESFM’s purpose in action.

That purpose carried into Best Buddies Friendship Walks, where ESFM teamed up with Compass Group sister company Eurest to promote inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). As a national Best Buddies partner, ESFM provides meaningful job opportunities for people with IDD who often face social, physical and economic isolation.

This year, more than 200 ESFM and Eurest team members registered in 17 cities to walk in support of inclusive community.

Ashley Knesz, an ESFM senior finance manager, led a Friendship Walk team in Philadelphia.

“I always enjoy getting out to serve and support my community,” she said, “but doing it with colleagues, many of whom I’ve never met, was extra exciting. It was nice to have ‘work meet life’ and join together to do good for our local communities!”

From coast to coast, these stories are rooted in a simple truth: when we lead with care, we leave a lasting impact.