Locally founded Bunn-O-Matic Corporation is a worldwide beverage equipment company, and its coffee makers are commonplace globally. But there's another aspect to what they dispense, and that's corporate citizenship. As is stated on BUNN's website, "At Bunn-O-Matic, being a good corporate citizen is embedded in our primary mission, 'To act with purpose to make a positive difference in the people and communities we touch.' The company encourages employees to become engaged in volunteer-philanthropic activities in the community and offers paid time off to volunteer for approved initiatives.
Desiree Logsdon, senior vice president of corporate citizenship, has been with BUNN since 1986 and is responsible for identifying local and global initiatives that could benefit from BUNN's support. Included in that may be volunteer efforts, beverage equipment donations, financial contributions or sharing their team's professional expertise to educate students or individuals working in the coffee industry.
"When our employees are encouraged to volunteer, it gives them a sense of well-being and pride knowing they are making a positive difference in the communities where we live and work," Logsdon said. "Whether it is serving on a board of directors locally or a national board in the coffee industry, employees feel more connected to efforts that drive positive change. Group volunteer activities are encouraged, not only to support various causes, but to provide team-building opportunities and foster a cohesive work environment.
Each quarter, BUNN donates ground beef that comes from the BUNN Family Quarter B Farm to 12-15 community organizations that provide food to those in need, according to Logsdon.
Among those who have benefited from support are Motherland Gardens Community Project and Helping Hands of Springfield. Yves Doumen, founder and director of Motherland Gardens, oversees Springfield's east-side neighborhood raised gardens to cultivate fresh produce for area residents. He received a financial sponsorship, allowing the group to produce more to give away. BUNN volunteers completed a fencing project, and the company donated approximately 500 pounds of ground beef which was distributed to nearly 200 community members and families through the project's back-to-school event.
Jilnita Johnson, director of recruitment, retention and support with Helping Hands of Springfield, said "BUNN's community outreach has positively affected our agency by supporting us in feeding the most underserved population of the community. We are supplied quarterly with beef which allows our on-site kitchen staff to serve items that we otherwise would not be able to afford or supply. The BUNN employees actively engage with our staff and support ongoing endeavors. They have toured our facilities and provided insight to utilize BUNN products."
Most memorable for Johnson was the first beef delivery. "Clients had been requesting meatloaf and had come up with a plan to use their Link cards to buy enough meat for the kitchen manager to make it happen. When told what was going on, the clients cheered and voiced happiness. And the meatloaf has been a hit ever since."
Lynn Eck, chief development and marketing director for YMCA of Springfield, asked for support for a special summer camp program for kids in District 186 who have been designated as unhoused. "Without hesitation, Desiree Logsdon offered a super-cool field trip experience for these summer campers," Eck said. "Kids were bused to BUNN Farms where they were greeted by BUNN Farm staff and split up into groups so kids could enjoy stations that were set up by BUNN staff. ... It is a trip they are still talking about and will not forget anytime soon."
Logsdon said she has learned that BUNN employees want to volunteer, but they often don't know how to get involved. "Once employees see opportunities to make a difference working on an initiative that they feel passionate about, they are eager to help. I have relationships with many community and industry organizations that contact me when they need volunteers. I share those opportunities with our employees, and we are often able to fill the need for volunteers."
Ideas come from the community and from inside the company. Jeff Kadyk, who serves as BUNN's director of engineering, has experience with summer work camps where youth are taught to work together to do home repairs for seniors and those who are disadvantaged. Several years ago, he suggested the company create an event to provide home repairs to low-income, elderly or handicapped residents. The team leading the project at BUNN was around 25 people, he said, with more than 80 employees and 30 local volunteers resulting in repairs for 60 area homes. Kadyk said most memorable for him was "watching the joy in their heart as the projects were completed and hearing the connections and friendships they developed with the youth group crews that spent the week working on their home."
Logdson added that BUNN looks at the community as a whole to see what resources can best make an impact. Regular efforts may include the United Way Day of Action, delivering meals weekly for the Meals on Wheels program and mentoring for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois, but the scope of outreach encompasses much more.
"It is so rewarding to work for a company that allows you to volunteer and lean into our community," she said.
