We recently wrapped up our third annual OpenX Cares activities – a little earlier in the year this time around because we couldn’t wait! In years past, we’ve collected trash from Santa Monica Beach and made theater costumes to bring joy to sick children, among other initiatives.

This year we stepped away from our work for a few hours to team up with Royal Trinity Hospice in London, Compassion Through Action in Los Angeles, Full Circle Farm in Sunnyvale, and Fleece and Thank You in New York. Together with these non-profit organizations, we contributed to causes in our community that need our attention while bonding with our fellow colleagues.

The London team kicked things off by volunteering with Royal Trinity Hospice at three of their Trinity Boutiques, where donated goods are sold to raise money for the hospice. OpenXers organized everything from furniture to books, researching their estimated value and listing them on e-commerce sites for the boutiques. Our more fashionable OpenXers were in charge of steaming garments to wrinkle-free perfection and dressing mannequins in some rendition of the latest trends (we hear the 90s are in again).

In Pasadena, we worked with Compassion Through Action to make hygiene kits for the homeless on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. We packed kits, which included a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and body wash, assembly-line style and accomplished our goal of 1,000 kits with record efficiency.

The Santa Clara team headed to aptly-named Sunnyvale to take advantage of the beautiful weather by weeding, pruning and harvesting with Full Circle Farm, a non-profit, sustainable farm. Full Circle Farm provides the community with affordable, locally grown food free from pesticides.

Last, but not least, in New York the team supported Fleece and Thank You by crafting blankets for children battling various illnesses at Harlem Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital. In addition to making comforting fleece blankets, OpenXers filmed encouraging videos for the children to cheer them on as they undergo their treatments. As you can see, some OpenXers were quite attached to their creations. We hope the kids feel warm, cozy and safe as they snuggle up with their new blankets to enjoy our video messages!