Baylor employees give back through volunteer opportunities

November was a month of giving back for Baylor College of Medicine employees who volunteered for a myriad of organizations, including U.S. Vets, Project C.U.R.E. and the Hermann Park Conservancy.

Baylor’s volunteer opportunities are coordinated by Jose “Alex” Alanis, communications associate in the Office of Communications and Community Outreach. Alanis is always on the lookout for organizations that need help.

Baylor employees volunteered with U.S. Vets on Nov. 11, 2022.

On Veterans Day, Baylor employees volunteered with U.S. Vets, a nonprofit organization with three Houston facilities. U.S. Vets interacts with more than 1,100 veterans and their families annually and is a member of the Military Veteran Peer Network.

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At Project C.U.R.E., volunteers sorted and packed donated medical supplies to be sent to resource-limited countries. Project C.U.R.E. was founded in 1987 to address the staggering shortage of medical resources around the world.

And though it was a chilly day, several employees volunteered for the Hermann Park Conservancy by weeding, ranking, mulching and raking trails at nearby Hermann Park.

For those who are eligible, Baylor provides Volunteer Time Off which is how faculty and staff can support their communities during the work week. Full-time benefits eligible faculty and staff have one 8-hour workday per fiscal year to volunteer.

Baylor employees volunteered with Project C.U.R.E. in November 2022.

VTO time is available starting on the first day of the person’s 13th month of employment, and all eight hours must be completed in one day during work hours. Unused VTO time does not carry over and will be reissued at the beginning of the new fiscal year.

While Baylor has a list of recommended organizations and opportunities, an employee can find their own community service opportunities. Examples include disaster relief services, volunteering at public or private schools, faith-based organizations and local run/walk races.

By Julie Garcia