The Marketing Research Education Foundation (MREF) held its third annual Month of Service throughout the month of January. The Month of Service encourages marketing researchers to organize service groups across multiple locations to help make a positive impact on their communities.
Vision trip to Hogar Montiel
A team of 11 volunteers from the marketing research industry went on a vision trip to visit the Hogar Montiel Program. The program serves young girls between the ages of 5-12 in Costa Rica who have high social risk, facing problems such as neglect, abandonment, and abuse.
MREF community members participated in daily activities, organized by Stephanie Vincent, Harmon Research; completed projects for the girls, including painting all the closets; and visited the construction site of the new home that will allow Hogar Montiel to care for more girls and create a special section for teenagers.
“We divided into groups,” said Vincent in a blog post about the trip. “Some volunteers played with the younger girls, others with the older ones, and the rest got to work painting. Brad [Larson, Ironwood Insights Group] took charge of the painting effort, guiding us and Joey [Harmon, Harmon Research] added some humor.”
Hogar Montiel is set up to support girls academically according to learning styles and individual needs, while also supporting their emotional well-being and development.
Returning participant Michael Hess, Emporia Research, said, “They are some of the kindest, most loving, and incredibly resilient kids you could ever be so lucky to meet and spend time with. I’m so proud to play even a small part in MREF’s efforts to help provide them with the resources they need to live and learn more comfortably.”
When reflecting on the trip, April Bell, Made With Empathy, shared similar sentiments to Hess, and said, "Spending time at Hogar Montiel put so much of my own worries into perspective. Watching these girls shine with joy despite all was not only contagious but made me realize how often the people you want to help are actually helping you! These girls changed me for the better with the power of their presence!"
Making a difference through donations
Others, like staff at Ironwood Insights, participated in the MREF Month of Service by donating clothing, home goods, and food to shelters and food banks in their local communities.
Packing pencil bags at the Kids in Need Foundation
Quirk’s Media staff volunteered at Kids in Need Foundation (KINF), a nonprofit organization offering free school supplies and resources to children throughout the United States. Their vision is to see that every child in the U.S. has the resources to engage in a quality education. KINF offers various services to help students and teachers have a successful school year.
Quirk’s Media staff helping pack pencil bags that will go across the country to thousands of kids who are on free or reduced lunch programs. Staff members were able to pack over two pallets, approximately 1,200 bags.
Visiting a Start Lighthouse Literacy Hub
Start Lighthouse is a New York-based organization dedicated to advancing childhood literacy through a social justice lens. MREF community members, including staff from Emporia Research , Knowvanta and Gazelle Global, visited one of Start Lighthouse’s Literacy Hubs as part of the Month of Service.
Start Lighthouse rehabilitates abandoned libraries at partner public schools, establishing permanent homes for its programming, representing a significant step in reviving unused library spaces across the Bronx.
After the visit, Start Lighthouse shared the following message on its LinkedIn profile: “Our 5th-grade students enjoyed working with the MREF team on activities that build their comprehension and critical thinking skills. Watching these interactions was a powerful reminder of how much can be achieved when communities support education.”
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