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The end of the year is traditionally the season for giving — a time for contributing to food and toy drives as well as favored charities. Small businesses can reap big benefits through charitable efforts. Charitable giving can attract and retain employees, boost company morale, create goodwill within the community and create possible tax advantages.

Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke had the chance to chat with Magda Elizondo, Hero Helps coordinator for Rooter Hero Plumbing & Air, about the company’s charitable efforts, not just during the giving season, but throughout the entire year.

PM: When was Hero Helps founded, and why did Rooter Hero decide to start the program?

ME: The Rooter Hero Hero Helps program was founded in 2018. We decided to start the program because we wanted to get to know the community around us and give back to our service area.

PM: What is Rooter Hero’s mission and values as it relates to community involvement?

ME: Here at Rooter Hero our values are F.I.R.S.T — faith, integrity, respect, service and teamwork. Our Hero Helps program is a great way to see these beliefs in action as our employees come together to volunteer and donate for various events and causes.

PM: Why is it important for plumbing contractors to give back to their communities?

ME: Not only is it important for plumbing contractors to give back, but everyone should. Every time we volunteer, organizations are shocked that we are a plumbing company because they say it’s very rare.

PM: Can you elaborate on some of the charitable work Hero Helps has done?

ME: Hero Helps has done many events over the years from volunteering to make food or fill community pantries to bigger events, such as participating in March Matters with the Children's Hospital and even hosting lunch for the Ronald McDonald House.

In July, Hero Helps donated new and gently used household items to Alexandria's House (homeless shelter for women and children) in Los Angeles and helped with restocking their food pantry as well as donated books for the open community library. In August, Hero Helps hosted an ice cream party for Ritchie Valens Park for its summer camp program, donated back-to-school supplies and backpacks to the Alexandria's House kids, bought a commercial ice maker for a local high school football team that was in need (San Fernando High School) and provided school supplies to a classroom in Telfair Elementary that was in need. In September, Hero Helps hosted a family spaghetti dinner at San Fernando Rescue Mission for about seven families, donated to the Santa Clarita food pantry and donated food to the CSUN food pantry they have for students.

PM: How does Hero Helps determine which causes or organizations to support?

ME: This varies based on the month, because we like to do things based on the seasons. In the summer, we think of the kids that are in summer camp, and we reach out to the communities surrounding our corporate office to see if we can host an ice cream party. In the fall and winter months, we think of major holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. So, we look for places where we can volunteer to make meals or even give canned goods. For Christmas, the Salvation Army usually reaches out so we can adopt a family or participate in an Angel Tree, where we buy gifts for individual children.

PM: Does the company involve employees in community service or volunteering?

ME: Yes of course! Having so many locations is used to our advantage. We all come together to give back or donate any way we can.

PM: Do you plan to evolve and expand your community involvement efforts in the future?

ME: Yes, we are always thinking of new ways to make Hero Helps grow. We truly love giving back to the community and we hope we always can.