We Serve 2024: A Year of Resilience and Community Support
In a year marked by unprecedented natural disasters in the U.S., Floyd Lee Locums’ team set a record for volunteer service through the company’s We Serve initiative. Whether it was hauling hay for stranded animals during Hurricane Helene or donating toiletries to people stranded by tornados, our team responded to the natural disasters across the U.S. while continuing to support a wide range of organizations and activities in their communities. Today, December 5th, we celebrate International Volunteer Day by reflecting on how we’ve met the call to serve our communities.
Responding to Natural Disasters
From a food bank in Western New York to a children’s hospital in LA, our employees stepped up to help their communities in 2024. But nothing was more impactful this year than the natural disasters we witnessed. The U.S. saw a staggering 24 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in the U.S. in 2024 (and that’s just through October). These events included Hurricanes Helene and Milton, a record-breaking tornado season in the Midwest, and devastating wildfires across the West, resulting in more than 400 fatalities and significant economic impacts.
Our employees were quick to respond. After Hurricane Helene, Jessica swept muck from people’s homes, organized the collection of more than 2500 hay bales for stranded farm animals, and helped get more than 200 pairs of boots to those needing footwear in the mess left behind. She also spearheaded getting 1,000 pounds of goat feed to a local farmer. Dozens of our employees donated supplies and money to the Roan Mountain Baptist Church distribution center, a town decimated by the hurricane’s record rainfall and flash flooding. Leigh supported animal search and rescues in Tennessee and North Carolina while other team members gave blood in their local communities for the American Red Cross.
In Nebraska, following a series of destructive tornadoes that struck the Omaha area in April, Sandy joined Omaha Rapid Response to clear massive oak trees from people’s homes. This event was part of an outbreak that produced more than 140 tornadoes across several central and southern states in the spring, along with destructive storms again in July that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands in Omaha for up to two weeks.
Team members who weren’t in affected communities from this years’ disasters stepped up, too. They donated clothes, household items, and food supplies to organizations like Help4Kids near our hometown of Charleston, SC and Goodwill in Flagstaff, AZ.
Diverse Volunteer Activities
As in prior years, our employees’ volunteer efforts spanned a wide range of activities in 2024, demonstrating their commitment to various causes and communities.
Team members judged debate competitions at Harvard and Florida State University. Megan volunteered as a soccer coach and a softball coach in Minneapolis, promoting physical activity and teamwork among children. Jessica, Joanna, Rae, and Chelsea worked for several days to create a community roadway mural in Flagstaff to slow traffic near a school. More than 20 employees organized a company packing party for Lowcountry Period Pixies, an organization that collects and distributes menstrual hygiene supplies to schools and organizations.
Our leadership team is also active in supporting community causes. Our CEO and Co-Founder, Natasha, started the company’s We Serve program after hearing employee feedback. Natasha says, “We were looking for ways to support our mission to improving healthcare and our local communities, and a corporate volunteering program was suggested by several of our team members.” Natasha spearheaded the effort to create We Serve and incorporated it into the company’s values.
And she contributes toward it every month by serving on the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Steering Committee, speaking at various local business events to promote wellness and success, teaching masterclasses for young entrepreneurs and leaders, and serving as a mentor in the Minority Business Accelerator in Charleston. She also donates to her kids’ schools and her local Meals on Wheels.
Chief Operating Officer Nicole Burleson enjoys participating in local stream cleanups, donating to Goodwill, volunteering with the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, and helping her local community recover from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Executive leaders also participated on organizational Board of Directors and committees for NALTO, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Cincinnati 2030 District.
We Serve by the Numbers
We Serve saw impressive participation in 2024, setting a record for days of service. Out of 81 employees, 68 volunteered in their communities, logging an impressive 742 “days of service.” Their efforts benefited 104 organizations across the United States, showcasing the wide-reaching impact of our initiative. Below are a few of the organizations our employees supported in 2024 through We Serve.
Providing a regional and national platform for local artists, creatives, and thinkers, ARTx is an annual, accessible event to engage with the arts in an immersive and interactive way.
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals. Award-winning pediatric services at Children’s Hospital include a safe, comfortable experience for your entire family. From child-sized equipment to unique amenities and care focused on your family, CHLA is a trusted destination for your infant, child or teen.
Flagstaff Pride Association envisions a Flagstaff and Northern Arizona where LGBTQIA2S+ individuals are welcomed, supported, and able to live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination, prejudice, and bias.
Help One Now empowers families in developing countries through high-capacity local leaders with proven solutions to end extreme poverty.
Rapid Response deploys to natural and man-made disasters — locally, nationally, and around our world. As a faith-based organization, we provide compassionate relief and humanitarian aid in the midst of crisis and disaster.
Packages From Home serves Active Duty US military members stationed or deployed overseas (to include military working dogs & military K9 teams) as well as homeless, transitioning, and at-risk veterans by providing them with requested food, hygiene, and entertainment items to boost morale and quality of life.
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on a year of unprecedented challenges, we’re reminded of the resilience of our communities and the awe-inspiring actions Americans took to help their neighbors. At Floyd Lee Locums, we remain committed to our mission of improving healthcare and our local communities through service. Our We Serve initiative is more than just a program – it’s a reflection of our values and our commitment to making a positive impact.
Together, we’ll continue to make a difference, one act at a time.
About Floyd Lee Locums
Floyd Lee Locums is a concierge healthcare staffing firm focused on offering physicians and clinicians a stress-free job search and placement experience. As a partner to clinicians looking for a different way of working, we have a best-in-class team that offers greater freedom and flexibility in how providers practice, while delivering personalized amenities and support. As a staffing partner focused on demand planning and contingent workforce solutions, tailored to each organization, Floyd Lee Locums focuses on an end-to-end placement experience, with a single point-of-contact.
Founded in 2017, and headquartered in North Charleston, South Carolina, Floyd Lee Locums has grown to 90+ internal employees who, depending on projects and needs, support anywhere from 300-450 healthcare providers on assignment per week. We are a multi-award-winning locums organization recognized as a “Best Staffing Firm to Temp For” five years running by Staffing Industry Analysts, an Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company, and Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce “Small Business of the Year”.