Levi Strauss & Co. Supports Shanti

As part of their 10th annual Community Day, employees of Levi Strauss & Co. took a day off of work to volunteer in local communities around the globe.
Here in San Francisco, paired up with Hands on Bay Area, around 800 volunteers participated in 27 local community projects.  Today, Shanti was lucky enough to have 13 of those very enthusiastic volunteers.

Wholeheartedly tackling several projects, the volunteers revamped and reorganized Shanti’s office space. Their efforts and eager attitude were both moving and tremendously useful. “With all the work that piles up, it becomes easy to forget how significant the simple things, like working in a clean environment, can be,” said one Shanti staff person. “The spring cleaning had to be done somehow, and they provided the energy,” another said.

Volunteers helped tremendously with providing open space in cubicles and painting a chalk board in the drop in center for clients. “It really helps us express our emotions and creativity,” says a Shanti client. The room, now filled with quotes and drawings, can really help clients understand one another and feel more connected. “It gives clients something to do if they aren’t comfortable talking. Many are into art and that’s another place for them to express themselves,” says a Shanti volunteer coordinator. One Shanti staff also compared writing on a wall to her experience at the Shanti volunteer training, “It’s nice to be able to express yourself and see how others can relate to the events and experiences you are going through.”

Levi Strauss & Co.’s support also goes beyond the annual Community Day. Having been a longtime supporter of equality and the fight against AIDS, the company has contributed over $40 million dollars in grants to HIV/AIDS service organizations in various countries all around the world, including Shanti. They even surprised Shanti with a very generous gift of $5,000 as part of their Community Day effort. Levi Strauss and Co. also helps over 60 non-profit organizations in their efforts to help educate and provide treatment towards HIV/AIDS illnesses. Shanti is grateful for the partnership with Levi’s and looks forward to future involvement!