1,000 Lunches, One Shared Purpose: Supporting Neighbors Experiencing Housing Insecurity

For the second year in a row, over 30 employees from UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement joined together in Evanston, IL to pack 1,000 shelf-stable lunches in support of Connections for the Homeless, a nonprofit organization that serves as a safety net for neighbors experiencing housing insecurity in Evanston and northern Cook County. Over the course of two days in June, employees packed lunches to support local neighbors, and the impact was felt just as strongly as the year before. 

“Here at Connections, summers are hard. School is out of session, volunteers are on vacation, and homelessness isn’t top of mind for many like it is in the colder months. Yet, the need is just as great,” said Julie Lanham, director of development operations at Connections. “We know we will not receive enough fresh lunches each day to meet our needs but, because of ULRI-ULSE, we can now ensure everyone who visits our drop-in center has a meal. Thank you for renewing your support and providing Connections with 1,000 shelf stable lunches.” 

Karen Smilie, IT vendor manager at ULRI and ULSE, worked closely with Connections to organize the events and recruited employees to roll up their sleeves to volunteer. “For the second year in a row, I’ve been proud to join colleagues in packing lunches for Connections,” said Smilie. “Supporting those experiencing food insecurity is a cause that is deeply meaningful to me, and whether I’m helping to pack lunches or making PB&J sandwiches, I find tremendous joy in knowing we’re making a difference in our community.  I’m proud to work for an organization that allows us time to give back to the community we live in.” 

Employees’ collective efforts to volunteer and ensure local residents have access to nutritious meals demonstrate the UL enterprise’s broader commitment to community engagement and mission of working for a safer world.

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