For many of us, the holiday season is a busy time filled with work, shopping, holiday events and family traditions. However, there are those less fortunate whose basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter take priority over the hustle and bustle of the holiday frenzy.

Click here for a full photo gallery from our Day of Good 2011!

This is why every holiday season Team One follows a tradition of spending a “Day of Good” lending a hand to local charities.  As in years past, Team One jumped in to help walk dogs for Friends of Animals, sort through food at the LA Food Bank, distribute holiday gifts to the families of Felton Elementary and play with the boys and girls of Free Arts for Abused Children.  But this year, the love expanded to include two more much-deserving non-profits: the Amanda Foundation Animal Shelter in Beverly Hills, where participants played with the animals and cleaned kennels, as well as Rainbow Services, for which Team Oners purchased and sorted through much-needed supplies for this San Pedro-located women’s shelter.

The “Day of Good” was a fun way for Team One to get involved in the community, but was also greatly appreciated by the charities and those they assist.  Charity Team Leaders came back to the agency with stories of heart-felt experiences and touching feedback from the organizations.  Here are just a few of their accounts…

“At the Amanda Foundation, the Team One crew jumped right in to walk dogs, brush cats and clean the kennels.  For people that usually work at desks – this was hard work!  It was sad to see so many great pets without homes but it felt good to give back and to get to know some fellow animal-lovers here at Team One.  Everyone showed up ready to get their hands dirty and do whatever was needed.”

-       Kat Kirsch, The Amanda Foundation Team Leader

“The (Rainbow Services Women’s Shelter) Director was completely overwhelmed by the generosity and the hours of shopping, sorting etc., that means so much.  For those that were not part of the delivery crew…I wish you could have seen her face when we began to unload everything.  This charity does so much to break the cycle of domestic violence and I know that what we did as a group will go a long way in helping.”

-       Cait Drury, Rainbow Services Team Leader

“For Felton School Elementary, we purchased and delivered gifts, Christmas trees, and restaurant gift cards to families unable to provide these things for themselves.  We took on the job of shopping for some of the gifts, taking the time to make sure everything matched and that siblings received different colors. Four and a half hours and thirty-four complete outfits later, we now know the layout of every Target in a ten-mile radius.  It was no easy task, but worth every minute when we were able to deliver the items to the families who deserved them more than anyone.

-               Justine Kleeman & Nicole Donanian, Felton Elementary School Team Leaders

“There is nothing more rewarding then waking up the next morning and realizing that you not only helped to feed 1 million people (a quarter of the LA population) but also got a great ab and forearm workout in.  Sorting food at the LA Food Bank was a great way to bring people from around the agency together for the common good of feeding LA.  It made us aware of the constant need for volunteerism throughout the year.  Hunger is not just during the holidays, but is a struggle that people face daily”

-               Rebecca Reingen, LA Food Bank Team Leader

The “Day of Good” was rewarding for everyone, from our furry friends at the animal shelters, to the grateful kids at Free Arts for Abused Children, to the Team Oners who got to experience these six charities first hand.

I guess it is true what the Grinch thought that fateful day: “‘It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags.’ And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before: ‘What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store…What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.’”