Doing good and giving back aren’t just buzzwords for us—they’re at the heart of who we are. We recently spoke with Los Angeles-based teammate Renu Mevasse, who is making an impact on hunger in her community through her involvement with a local food bank.

How long have you been involved with Westside Food Bank and what motivates you to continue volunteering?

For the past 10 years, I have volunteered with the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District x Westside Food Bank through the Weekend Bag Program, and just this year I began volunteering directly with the Westside Food Bank.

I continue to volunteer because I see the direct impact the program has on children and families in our community. Every week during the school year, the SMMUSD x Westside Food Bank delivers food to families, especially on weekends to help fill nutritional gaps. And during the summer, the food bank continues to support these families when school is not in session.

What impact does the food bank have on the community and how do you feel being part of this initiative?

Did you know that 1 in 5 American children are food insecure? While nearly 30 million students in the U.S. receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year, when school ends for the summer, millions of those children go hungry. In Los Angeles County, that means 1 in 4 households with children. Westside Food Bank serves Los Angeles County, so I believe our collective efforts are helping in some small way.

Can you share a memorable experience related to your volunteering?

In June, I volunteered with my Clorox teammates in Los Angeles to pack meal kits for kids. School-provided meals are often the only consistent source of food for students, so summer is a critical time for food insecurity. We stepped away from our desks for a few hours and packed over 250 meal kits. As a bonus, it gave us a chance to get to know each other better!

How has your experience serving on the board of trustees of The Clorox Company Foundation influenced your approach to community service?

I joined the board of trustees because I believe in mission and giving back to our communities, especially in smaller and more personal ways. Being involved in my community gives my life more purpose and balance. I also love being on the board because it gives me a better understanding of all the ways each of us can give back.

How do you manage to combine volunteer work with your professional responsibilities?

I am passionate about helping families (especially children) overcome food insecurity, but with a busy work and family life, I wanted a permanent opportunity that I could stick with. The great thing about SMMUSD and Westside Food Bank is that I can volunteer an hour a week by delivering weekend food boxes to different schools while I go and pick up my kids. Or I can take advantage of my summer Fridays and volunteer half a day with friends, family, or coworkers. The key to volunteering is finding something you are passionate about and then taking one small step at a time. Sometimes that is all the time you have. But even a small step can make a big difference in someone’s life!