An Awesome Experience: Colorado IT Team Prepares Meals at Food Bank of the Rockies

Last December, the Marshal Fire in Colorado destroyed thousands of homes not far from Flatiron’s corporate headquarters in Broomfield. The wind-driven blaze forced thousands of Boulder County residents from their homes on very short notice, including some Flatiron employees.

Chief Information Officer Craig Oppermann says he and other IT managers saw the destruction and felt inspired to do something good for the community. With the assistance of Senior Business Analyst Christi Griffiths, they arranged to do a volunteer project at Food Bank of the Rockies. This wonderful organization provides more than 180,000 meals a day across Northern Colorado and Wyoming.

“Working in IT, we pride ourselves on focusing on customer service and helping our employees at Flatiron,” Oppermann says. “This was an opportunity for the team to take a break from work, get out from behind the computer screens, and help others in the community in an enjoyable team activity.”

The 22 IT staffers bagged up more than 2,000 bags of pinto beans, which will be used in more than 1,700 meals for the less fortunate. The food bank’s advanced distribution system can then deliver the food to whomever needs it just a couple of days.

Because Food Bank of the Rockies prides itself on making signing up for volunteer projects easy through its website, Oppermann said some IT staff are planning on returning to volunteer on their own.

“It was an awesome experience,” Oppermann says. “It was an opportunity to bond and catch up with co-workers and just enjoy an opportunity to help hundreds of families.”