STAYING true to their commitment to continuously improve their relationship with the communities they serve, as well as strengthening their skills toward community development, SM employees took part in a program that aimed to give-love to the elderly.
 
Hundreds of employees from SM Supermalls, SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc., SM Family Entertain Inc. and SM Engineering Design Development Corp. participated in a one-day activity, dubbed as “Show More Care for the Elderly,” an employee-volunteerism program spearheaded by SM Supermalls, in all of its malls over the country.
 
On September 12 the employee-volunteers visited various senior-citizen centers in the local communities where their malls operate. They held various activities for the elderly, focusing on grooming and wellness.
 
Seniors were given free haircuts, pampering, toiletry kits, gifts and food packs. A short program and variety entertainment also took place. Employees held interactive activities, such as learning sessions on common health concerns of the elderly, consultation with nurses, exercises and games.
 
Aside from care for the elderly, SM’s employee volunteerism program also has projects for children and the community.
 
Julie M. Miteria, vice president of SM Supermalls Human Resources Department, said SM’s volunteerism program is aimed at strengthening employees’ support to the communities where an SM Mall operates. 
 
“Volunteerism is away of life for our employees. Our employees actively take part in it, because it is part of our commitment to support the communities we serve.
We also want to foster a more positive working environment in our malls. In our own little way, we show that we are part of a bigger community and by so doing, we can make this world a better place to live in, because we are SM and SM cares,” Miteria said.
 
The employee-volunteerism program is in support of the CSR initiatives of SM Cares. SM Cares, a division of SM Foundation, is the corporate social responsibility
arm of retail giant SM Prime Holdings Inc. Its advocacies include programs for persons with disabilities, children and youth, senior citizens, women and breast-feeding mothers, overseas Filipino workers, through the SM Global Pinoy and Environment and sustainability.