Starting the Year Off Right

At Western, making an impact isn’t just part of the job – it’s part of who we are. Every day, our teams help protect the health and safety of the communities where they live and work. But for the Western team, simply doing the expected is never enough. They strive for something greater – what they proudly call a Heroic Impact. It means showing up with courage and purpose, doing what’s right even when no one is watching, and putting the needs of others first.

Sometimes, our busy lives and busy schedules try to get in the way, but the team at Western makes sure to be a leader when it comes to taking the time to make an impact in their communities. Stopping the grind for a moment and coming together as a team is so important. They know when our people unite around a shared purpose, great things happen. That belief reflects one of our core values – Essential Together. We rely on one another, we move forward as one, and we know we can’t do our best work alone.

So, this time, they came together to donate to a local food pantry. Our Northern New Jersey and New York teams volunteered their time and collected food for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. And collect they did!

While donations to food pantries typically rise during the holidays, the team understands that hunger is a year-round issue. So instead of stopping when the holiday glow fades, they leaned in when it mattered most. Together, they packed more than 150 boxes amounting to over 5,000 pounds of food and delivered it to the food bank on Wednesday, January 7. These meals will go directly to individuals and families in the same communities our teams serve every day, making the effort especially meaningful.

This initiative is a perfect example of what it means to Be Remarkable at Western. It’s about striving for excellence, going above and beyond, and creating moments that people remember. Region Manager Vincent Cicileo captured this feeling best when he said, “This was about more than volunteering. It was about showing up for the communities we serve every day. Seeing our team work together and knowing we helped make a real difference left me feeling proud and reminded me why giving back matters.”

Food insecurity doesn’t take a break, and neither does Western’s commitment to giving back. The team’s dedication to serving their communities day in and day out is just one of the many things that make them truly extraordinary.