(Seguin) — Central States Manufacturing was among those local companies who stepped away from their usual production lines this past Saturday to come together and help build something a bit more meaningful.
As part of Habitat for Humanity’s Build for Better Bash, the team of employees volunteered their time to construct walls for the organization’s milestone 50th and 51st homes in Guadalupe County.
Volunteer work crews spent the morning hammering and wall-building across a parking lot at Texas Lutheran University.
Andrea Ruiz, the human resources manager for the Seguin plant, says employees are encouraged to be of service to the community year-round. She says this is something that Central States strongly values.
“Our company has a giving back (program). We allot eight hours for all of our employees to come out during the year to give back to the community. And then, we have six people who are here today that are doing that. We did it last year. It was the first time that we actually did it, and we had probably about 20 last year. And everyone really enjoyed it. And it’s a great way to give back to the community,” said Ruiz.
For newly named Plant Manager Luis Hernandez, Saturday’s event was his first exposure to the community-driven side of the company. He says it was his chance to witness how the company empowers its employees to serve the community.
“I thought it was great. I thought that the whole culture of this company (was great).We are a faith-based company overall, and just the simple fact that we participate actively in these types of promotions, I think is great. Just listening to the testimony of the people that are going to receive these houses, it tells you everything about what we’re doing and why we do it. I’m happy to be out here with my coworkers and doing everything we can to support that,” said Hernandez.
It was also incredibly rewarding for Hernandez to work side-by-side with his Central States team. He says the work was all about making a difference outside of their regular day-to-day work.
“Seeing the community come together this week is a large testament to what this city stands for. I think the comments that were made at the beginning kind of set the center stage for, you know, why we’re out of here. But, you know, as a company, me being out here with my coworkers, them, working alongside with me, not as, in a capacity of — I’m a manager and you’re giving assignments and stuff. It’s just me and them elbow to elbow and, you know, hammering nails down. So, it’s all for the same cause, and I’m happy to do it,” said Hernandez.
Central States Manufacturing says it looks forward to continuing its partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Other business partners serving as sponsors or assisting with the build this past weekend included Bertling Equipment, Niagara, Schertz Bank & Trust, Barnard Donegan Insurance, Ameritex, TLU, GRMC, Seguin Economic Development Corporation, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Schwab for Texas, The Meservey Group; Knights of Columbus #412 and Seguin Radio KWED.
Other supporting sponsors included Marion State Bank, Tres Hewell Mortuary, Seguin Chevrolet, LoneStar Homes Solutions; Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union, CMC, Beyond Coffee, Paul Gaytan Law Firm, First United Bank- Seguin Main, Prosperity Bank, Joe Cools AC and Heating, Kirchner Women’s Clinic, ME Plumbing, 5J Plumbing, Healing Hands Chiropractic, GVEC and Master Electrical Services.
The annual effort is just one way the non-profit organization works to support working families with no-interest loan home buying.