DeNeuville Learning Center gets help from its friends

DeNeuville Learning Center (DLC) got a little bit of help from its friends when 19 employees from ServiceMaster came to the center to stuff 170 backpacks for the women and children DeNeuville serves.

Each year ServiceMaster pays employees to volunteer at local charities on “We Serve Day.” The Memphis-based corporation has designated the third Friday in August as the day it gives back to community each year. The company has chosen DeNeuville as one of its locations for We Serve Day for the past four years. From all indications, it looks like the relationship is a lasting one.

DeNeuville
Lori Bramlett, Executive Director of DeNeuville Learning Center, and Nik Varty, Chief Executive Officer of ServiceMaster, share a moment of levity during We Serve Day on August 18.

Chief Executive Officer of ServiceMaster, Nik Varty, was one of the volunteers at DLC on We Serve Day. He said, “I like the mission of DeNeuville Learning Center and fully support its dedication to an important cause. We want to be good citizens in the community and will definitely continue this project.”

In addition to providing DLC with employee volunteers on We Serve Day, ServiceMaster bought all of the backpacks and the supplies that went into them.

“For the women and their children at DeNeuville, these backpacks are filled with more than just products. These gifts are packed with love and make our women and their children feel welcome to the community,” Executive Director Lori Bramlett said.

“Giving back to community is a rich part of the culture at ServiceMaster. Employees say they enjoy helping to improve lives and build stronger neighborhoods where the company serves. Lori said, “ServiceMaster is amazing. We Serve Day is one of the greatest things Memphis has going for it,” Lori said.

Beth Elkins is an employee of ServiceMaster. She said she and her son normally volunteer together on We Serve Day. This year her son couldn’t participate, so Beth invited her husband to join her. She said, “We didn’t know anything about DeNeuville Learning Center before we came here for We Serve Day. Lori gave us an overview of the center and Kim told us all about its history and mission. I like everything I learned about the center. I’m thinking that the Elkins family should make DeNeuville our volunteer adoption project where we do all of our community volunteer work.”

DeNeuville
Employees from ServiceMaster stuff backpacks for DeNeuville students during We Serve Day.

ServiceMaster brands include Merry Maids, the largest network of home cleaning franchises in the United States, and Terminix, a leader in protecting homes and businesses from termites and other pests.

DeNeuville Learning Center empowers women to improve their lives through education and community. The center is named in honor of Count Augustin le Roy de la Potherie de Neuville, an early benefactor of Sisters of the Good Shepherd. Saint Mary Euphrasia, Founder of the Good Shepherd Order, wrote of Count de Neuville, “His revered name ought to be written on every door of the House, on every tree of our grounds. What tongue could ever tell all his generosity towards us?”

Jeanette McDermott

Jeanette McDermott

Jeanette is the Communications Coordinator for Sisters of the Good Shepherd Province of Mid-North America. She is a career photojournalist who has served in various capacities of print, broadcast, and corporate communications. Jeanette is devoted to creation and is particularly focused on saving pollinators and other wildlife species and their habitat. She is an ethical vegan and created the website veganstoryteller.com