Delivering gifts and dignity: Regence employees make a difference in Oregon

Regence employees volunteer with ACCESS and the Senior Shoebox Project.

In honor of National Volunteer Week (April 19-25), we're celebrating something that happens year-round at Regence: employees showing up for their communities in meaningful ways. 

For people experiencing poverty in southern Oregon, the barriers can feel insurmountable. Families may struggle to keep the lights on, pay rent and put food on the table, while some older adults living on fixed incomes face impossible choices between medication and meals. That's where ACCESS steps in and where Regence employees are making a difference. 

Building pathways out of poverty 

Since 1976, ACCESS has been breaking the cycle of poverty in southern Oregon, providing essential services and support to low-income residents throughout Jackson County. 

The impact of ACCESS is substantial: in the past year, the organization served 39,158 residents, provided 137,829 independent services, delivered 3.7 million meals, and distributed $9.7 million in rental assistance and $2.4 million in energy assistance. 

But ACCESS does more than meet immediate needs. Through direct services and community partnerships, they help people work toward long-term stability: securing housing, achieving homeownership and building financial literacy, empowering them to become self-sufficient, one step at a time. 

Our corporate foundation, Cambia Health Foundation, understands that whole-person health is more than what happens in a doctor’s office; our health depends on access to fresh food, safe housing and supportive communities. That’s why they’ve been a long-standing partner of ACCESS, supporting their work through grants and employee volunteerism. 

Holiday gifts with heart 

Each holiday season, ACCESS brings gifts of cheer and care to older adults, people with disabilities and homebound individuals through the Senior Shoebox Project. Volunteers fill shoeboxes with practical items and small comforts, then deliver them to recipients' homes or through community distribution. 

Regence employee Danielle Sanders works with older adults daily, hearing their stories and understanding their challenges. When she learned about the Senior Shoebox Project, she knew she wanted to be involved. 

"They've captured my heart," she said. "Volunteering lets me extend that care beyond my desk and directly impact their lives." 

Planning begins in August, with Sanders and her coworker Kathleen Britt coordinating the company's involvement: sourcing items like pill organizers and puzzle books, securing shoebox donations from local businesses, recruiting volunteers and organizing packing sessions. Their annual goal is 200 filled shoeboxes — half go to ACCESS for community distribution, while Regence employees hand-deliver the remaining 100 to seniors' homes. 

When it hits home 

One moment from last year stands out. During deliveries at a retirement community, Sanders arrived at one resident's door to find the woman had baked homemade cookies for the volunteers. 

"In that instant, the roles reversed," she said. "We came to bring her a gift, and she had baked something special for us. It wasn't about the cookies — it was what they represented. She wanted to give back and make us feel appreciated." 

That experience reinforced what drives Sanders' commitment: this project isn't one-way charity. It's about connection, dignity and mutual respect. The opportunity to brighten someone's day and make them feel seen and valued keeps her coming back year after year. 

The support extends beyond that given to the recipients. Even Sanders’ manager joins in, delivering shoeboxes door-to-door. "When leaders roll up their sleeves alongside you, it sends a powerful message," she said. "We have a culture where volunteering isn't something you do 'on the side.'" 

Turning commitment into action 

At Regence, we believe in supporting the communities where we live, work and play, and we empower our employees to do the same. The community engagement team through our corporate foundation connects them to organizations like ACCESS, while programs like Dollars for Doers—which turns volunteer hours into $20 donations that employees give to causes they care about—makes it easy to get involved.  

Sanders' advice to anyone considering volunteering? "The time invested in serving others pays dividends in unexpected ways, through the connections made, the perspectives gained and the reminder of what truly matters." 

This National Volunteer Week, find your way to make an impact. ACCESS welcomes volunteers who want to help fill the gaps for vulnerable neighbors in southern Oregon through the Senior Shoebox Project and year-round opportunities. Explore volunteer opportunities with ACCESS and join Regence employees like Sanders who show up for our members and communities across Oregon.