Category Archives: Charity

Hanes Team Supports Local Habitat for Humanity

Team members from Hanes Industries in Conover, North Carolina, spent their Earth Day giving back to the local community by volunteering for Catawba Valley Habitat for Humanity.

The mission of Habitat Catawba Valley is to help homebuyers build a safe and affordable place to call home. The need for Habitat for Humanity in local communities is greater than ever. The current real estate market makes homeownership difficult for many, especially those whose income falls below the area’s median.

Team Members from Hanes Industries – Conover, Catawba Habitat for Humanity, and the future homeowners.

“Our goal is to put hardworking families into a home, breaking the cycle of renting and unlocking a new type of generational wealth through homeownership,” says Phillip Stepp, Digital Marketing Manager for Catawba Valley Habitat for Humanity. “We achieve this with help from the local community through monetary donations, donations of items to ReStore (a retail store that sells gently used furniture and home accessories), and the hard work from our volunteers and homebuyers.”

The Hanes volunteers visited a neighborhood that is getting a much-needed makeover and assisted in the construction of two different home projects. The team even had the opportunity to work alongside the future homeowners and share their personal stories.

“I volunteered because I understand how it feels to need a helping hand,” says Brandon Phothichack, a team member from Hanes. “I’ve struggled, and I’ve known people who have struggled, and I’ve worked with people who were in the program at Habitat and have succeeded in achieving their dreams of owning.”

Thank you to our Hanes team for giving back to their community and living out our values of putting people first and doing great work together!

L&P Supports United Way in the NYSE’s Global Giving Campaign

L&P is honored to support the United Way in the New York Stock Exchange’s (NYSE) Global Giving Campaign!

As a global manufacturer, Leggett & Platt is committed to investing in the communities where we live and work. The United Way shares our goals of advancing education, financial stability, and health around the world. We proudly support those initiatives, with corporate gifts multiplying our employees’ long-standing generosity to the organization.

A commemorative ornament will hang on the holiday tree in front of the NYSE entrance until the end of the year. Check it out below!

LEG Global Giving Campaign Ornament 2022 Photo Credit: NYSE

L&P Hosts Thanksgiving Food Drive

L&P recently hosted a Thanksgiving Food Drive to help those in need, collecting non-perishable food and pantry items at the corporate headquarters in Carthage, Missouri.

In addition to a financial donation from L&P, our employees donated many items during the food drive, including more than 100 cans of green beans! These donations will go to three non-profits in Southwest Missouri: Pressing Toward the Goal Ministries, the Carthage Crisis Center, and Carthage Crosslines Ministry.

Tracy Phillips, L&P Accounts Payable Coordinator and co-founder of Pressing Toward the Goal Ministries, said, “We are so grateful for everything that Leggett & Platt has done to partner with the ministry in helping take care of those in need. I just wanted to sincerely thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”

We are proud of our employees for working together and giving hope where it’s needed most!

United Way Spotlight: Carthage Crosslines

Leggett & Platt fosters a culture of giving, encouraging our employees to Do Some Good. Throughout the course of our local United Way campaign, we will shine a spotlight on several of the incredible agencies that United Way serves in our community. Times may be difficult, but we have witnessed communities rising to meet these hard moments. If in a position to give this year, we encourage you to support your local agency, too.

In September 1984, local churches formed Carthage Crosslines Ministry to create a central distribution point where neighbors in need could receive food and clothing.

“The mission of Crosslines is: where lines of compassion and concern cross lines of denominations with the community to meet lines of human need,” said Toni Smith, Executive Director.

In the 38 years since its inception, Crosslines has expanded its ministry. In addition to its appointment-only food pantry, it provides household items and financial assistance for rent and utilities to those experiencing hardship.

“Crosslines makes every effort to assist with all basic needs,” said Smith. “We provide food, clothing, shoes, hygiene products, diapers, small household items, linens, and even birthday and Christmas gifts.”

Crosslines relies heavily on the community’s support for its success ­­– from food and clothing drives to volunteer support and monetary donations.

“Quite frankly, Crosslines could not continue to operate without the funding we receive from Carthage Area United Way (CAUW),” said Smith. “This helps pay our utilities, provides gasoline for our volunteer’s vehicles so they can pick up food donations – so many incidentals. It helps to know that we can count on CAUW.”

Visit Carthage Crosslines Ministry to learn more or volunteer.

United Way Spotlight: Jasper County CASA

Leggett & Platt fosters a culture of giving, encouraging our employees to Do Some Good. Throughout the course of our local United Way campaign, we will shine a spotlight on several of the incredible agencies that United Way serves in our community. Times may be difficult, but we have witnessed communities rising to meet these hard moments. If in a position to give this year, we encourage you to support your local agency, too.

Jasper County CASA’s mission is to change a child’s story, and its volunteers are doing just that. CASA stands for court-appointed special advocates, a group of citizens who ensure regular contact, support, and advocacy for children in our community who have experienced abuse and neglect.

“The most critical work of CASA is to show up and speak up for the child,” said Kelly Hartley, Development Coordinator for Jasper County CASA. “The greatest factor for children who overcome serious hardship is the presence of at least one stable and committed adult. CASAs provide consistent, loving support and may be the only responsible adult presence in the child’s life.”

Swearing in ceremony of advocates.

Jasper County CASA currently has over 90 volunteers serving approximately 200 children. Their vision is for each of the more than 400 children in foster care in Jasper County to have a court-appointed special advocate by 2024.

“When people support United Way, the funding helps provide recruitment, training, and retention of volunteer advocates,” said Hartley. “The trained advocates then show up for kids in foster care. For the first time in a child’s life, a responsible adult shows up at school, the foster home, supervised parent visits, football games, or birthday parties.”

CASA aims to ensure each child receives the best possible chance at a safe, permanent home and spends less time in the foster care system.

“Our advocates give each child a voice by making recommendations to the court based on the child’s best interest,” said Hartley. “The advocates give information gathered from those involved, especially the child. CASAs are positively impacting the lives of these children by showing up and speaking on their behalf. And we couldn’t do it without the support of United Way.”

Jasper County CASA

Habitat for Humanity: Rock the Block

L&P Automotive employees Mario Lorenzon, Becky Ferguson, Joe Lang, and Milosz Niec recently participated in Habitat for Humanity’s Rock the Block in Oakland County, Michigan.

Rock the Block is part of Habitat for Humanity’s Neighborhood Revitalization effort, which offers minor exterior home repairs to homeowners in need. L&P made a corporate donation to the event and has been a long-standing supporter of Habitat for Humanity.

“Habitat for Humanity does important work in revitalizing neighborhoods and providing housing for those who otherwise may not be able to afford it,” said Milosz Niec, Chief Engineer of Electrical and Electronics for the Automotive Group. “They also bring the community together – people of all backgrounds and skill levels.”

Our team and other volunteers from the community lent their skills to revitalize an older Southfield neighborhood.

“In the morning, the team and I worked to clear a lot for development, and in the afternoon, we helped to build some landscaping,” said Milosz. “A few of us were able to do some great team building. It was my first time to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, and I will do it again!”

Thanks to the team for exemplifying our L&P value of doing great work together!

L&P Marketing + Creative Hosts Pumpkin Social and Food Drive

Each month, the L&P Marketing & Creative (M+C) teams get together—online and offline—to foster connection and friendship. M+C recently came together to carve pumpkins and collect non-perishable food for the Sunshine Children’s Home in Carthage, Missouri!

Virtual activities throughout the month provide a chance to connect beyond work-related meetings. The department also offers a monthly in-person activity aimed at bringing more people together. Physical gatherings usually revolve around a planning meeting or service project and include lunch or snacks.

Check out photos from M+C’s pumpkin social below!

About L&P Marketing + Creative

Leggett & Platt Marketing + Creative is an internal creative agency for Leggett & Platt. We offer design, writing, internet, and tradeshow services to L&P’s business units. We also perform creative work for a number of outside companies at a standard rate per hour.

United Way Spotlight: Community Clinic

Leggett & Platt fosters a culture of giving, encouraging our employees to Do Some Good. Throughout the course of our local United Way campaign, we will shine a spotlight on several of the incredible agencies that United Way serves in our community. Times may be difficult, but we have witnessed communities rising to meet these hard moments. If in a position to give this year, we encourage you to support your local agency, too.

Since its inception in 1992, Community Clinic of Southwest Missouri has had one mission: to provide quality, affordable healthcare to those in need. Physicians and community leaders started the first clinic in a donated room at the Presbyterian Church in downtown Joplin. One night a week, they would open the doors and offer a warm meal and medical assistance to anyone in need.

“We often take for granted the ability to go to the doctor or get a prescription filled,” said Stephanie Brady, Executive Director of Community Clinic of Southwest Missouri. “If we think of the thousands of people who are struggling in our community and who choose to buy food instead of going to the doctor — those are the people we help.”

Today, with community support and the partnership with United Way, the clinic found a permanent home at 701 S. Joplin Avenue. The Community Clinic serves nearly 1,800 patients, providing medical, dental, vision, prescription, and mental healthcare four days a week.

“Our prescription assistance program is a great example of the impact of United Way,” said Brady. “With funding, we have been able to provide necessary prescriptions for families in need throughout Southwest Missouri. We’ve also provided vision assistance and eyeglasses to nearly 300 people.”

The success of the Community Clinic is evident in the stories of the people it helps.

“We recently helped a man who had been out of work for years with severe diabetes,” said Brady. “He was very sick and likely going to die without medical intervention. He learned about our diabetic clinic and scheduled care. Since that time, his health has improved so dramatically that he was able to return to work. He and his wife believe if not for the clinic, he would not be alive today. When you support the Community Clinic, you are saving lives.”

To learn more, visit Community Clinic of Southwest Missouri.

L&P Volunteers at Third Thursday

L&P recently sponsored and volunteered at Third Thursday—a family-friendly event where the Joplin, Missouri, and surrounding communities get together to enjoy local food, artists, entertainment, and shops. October’s Third Thursday served as a local Halloween event that attracted a great crowd.

During the event, 33 L&P volunteers offered free activities near one of our semi-trucks to raise awareness for and solidify our ongoing partnership with the local United Way. Community members had the opportunity to enjoy a Candy Land Truck or Treat, games, pumpkin decorating, and free bags of popcorn.

Our volunteers handed out more than 8,000 pieces of candy and helped approximately 160 kids decorate mini pumpkins!

We are so grateful to our volunteers for making this Third Thursday fun and successful! Check out some photos from the event below.

Join L&P at Third Thursday!

L&P is sponsoring Third Thursday on October 20. From 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM CDT, stop by Main Street in Downtown Joplin, Missouri, to join the fun!

We will be accepting donations to support the local United Way, and there will be free activities for you to enjoy. For kids, we will have games, a Truck or Treat with candy, and pumpkin decorating. We’ll also have free bags of popcorn and a festive fall photo station.

We hope to see you there—find us by the big rig!