Today marks the 4th year Windrush Farm has hosted Deloitte, the international accounting, auditing, and consulting firm for their IMPACT Day.

Each year, on the first Friday of June, the company initiates IMPACT Day that requires all employees to perform a day of community service instead of coming into the office. Ninety-nine percent of Deloitte professionals will participate across more than 462 locations through 100+ focused projects, and touch more than 220,000 lives.

With the guidance of farm manager Roland Dudney and executive director Mandy Hogan, 18 professionals dressed in bright blue IMPACT day shirts donated their time to beautify Windrush.

A handful spent time digging posts holes to repair a fence in the pony paddock while others cleaned the grounds near the gazebo. Some power-washed away the winter dirt from the white barns and the rest cleared the trails so that Windrush clients can safely make their way through the acres of wooded trails on the property.

Normally these employees work as auditors and consultants but today they are using their problem-solving skills to perfect the paddock measurements.

”Today these professionals are the arms and legs! It is a major commitment but they are happy to do it,” said Linda Strovink, former Deloitte employee and current Windrush Farm volunteer.

Windrush Farm was pleased to host a group from The MENTOR Network on Saturday, April 12th for the company’s 2^nd Annual National Volunteer Day.

The MENTOR Network is a national network of local health and human service providers offering an array of quality, community-based services to adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, individuals with brain and spinal cord injuries and to youth facing emotional, behavioral and other medically complex challenges, as well as their families. Nearly 800 employees across The MENTOR Network volunteered in nine states on April 12^th along with friends and family. Participants organized spring cleanups and painting projects at a Boys & Girls Club, community boathouse, battered women’s shelter and various parks across the country, while others boxed products at food banks and sorted donated items at The Salvation Army.

With two corporate offices in Massachusetts, Boston and North Andover, the organization was seeking a volunteer location in each area that supports the same populations they serve as a company. Windrush was chosen for its specialized services for those with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and for its proximity to the North Andover office.

“The mission of Windrush Farm directly aligns with the values of The MENTOR Network, and I felt it was a unique organization that our employees would enjoy volunteering at,” says MENTOR Marketing and Corporate Philanthropy Coordinator, Victoria Hay.

A group of 7 volunteers spent the day cleaning the sensory trail area and parking area gardens. It was the perfect face-lift for the farm.

“It means a lot that friends in our community took time on their day off to volunteer doing tasks here at the farm,” says Mandy Hogan, Windrush Farm executive director. “Our volunteers are critical to the success of the program, we couldn’t do it without them.”

To learn more about The MENTOR Network, please visit their website, http://www.thementornetwork.com/