How a spontaneous conversation led to a workforce partnership that gives back

CHALLENGE

What started as a brief conversation in St. Paul quickly turned into an opportunity for PeopleReady to make a meaningful impact.  

While visiting the area, the St. Paul PeopleReady team stopped at Kids In Need Foundation to learn more about the organization and its mission. This quick 20-minute conversation uncovered an urgent workforce challenge.  

Kids In Need Foundation helps ensure students and teachers have access to essential school supplies and classroom resources they need to learn and thrive. Through its nationwide programs, the organization provides backpacks and supply boxes, and has a network of Teacher Resource Centers, where qualifying teachers can shop for essential school supplies at no cost.

At the time, the foundation was preparing thousands of backpacks for children across the country. With a tight fulfillment timeline and an operation largely powered by volunteers, it needed additional staffing support to keep the work moving and meet its goal. 

SOLUTION

PeopleReady saw an opportunity to do more than simply fill a staffing order. When Kids In Need Foundation reached out Wednesday evening, the PeopleReady team immediately began working with the organization to develop a workforce solution that fit its needs and nonprofit budget.  

By Friday, the foundation had placed an order for 20 PeopleReady workers for the following week. 

Over the next five days, PeopleReady associates worked on-site with between 30 and 50 volunteers at a time, helping prepare thousands of backpacks for children across the country. But PeopleReady’s support did not stop at providing workers. 

The local PeopleReady branch team rolled up their sleeves and joined the effort, working with foundation staff, volunteers and associates to keep operations moving. Together, they opened backpacks, added school supplies and passed completed bags down the conveyor-belt-style line. 

RESULTS

PeopleReady delivered 20 associates to support the foundation’s immediate need over five days. Together, the team helped build 12,900 backpacks, along with 370 teacher supply boxes and 1,800 pencil pouches for children and educators across the country. 

The engagement gave both associates and the local branch team a firsthand connection to the foundation’s mission and its community. For many, the experience was especially meaningful because they could personally relate to the children being served. 

The partnership also established PeopleReady as a trusted workforce resource and laid the groundwork for a lasting relationship with the organization. Sarah B., Volunteer Engagement Manager at the foundation, said:

“When you have thousands of backpacks to build on a tight timeline, speed, accuracy and efficiency are everything. The PeopleReady team hit the ground running and worked with incredible focus and energy to help us meet our goal of getting these backpacks out and into the hands of students prior to the start of the school year.”

The story is also a strong example of the value of local teams being present in the communities they serve. By listening, moving quickly and doing whatever it could do to help, PeopleReady went beyond providing workers to become a true partner in helping the foundation fulfill its mission.