Gateway recently welcomed volunteers from Aramark for another successful Aramark Building Community Day (ABC Day), continuing a valued partnership that has spanned more than 30 years. This year’s event marked Aramark’s fifth ABC Day at Gateway and brought together approximately 16 team members from across Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina to work alongside Gateway members and staff.
From 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., volunteers and members collaborated on activities focused on nutrition, wellness, and community engagement. The day was filled with meaningful interactions, hands-on learning, and plenty of opportunities to build connections.
One of the primary areas of focus was the Kitchen Unit, where Aramark staff worked side by side with members to prepare healthy meals and introduce new recipe ideas. Volunteers arrived equipped with ingredients, recipes, and expertise, creating an educational and engaging experience that encouraged healthy cooking habits and culinary exploration.
The Snack Bar was equally active, as members and volunteers teamed up to create healthy fruit skewers. This activity continued Gateway’s commitment to promoting nutritious snack choices in fun and creative ways while encouraging participation and teamwork.
A favorite tradition returned once again this year: the smoothie bike. Participants hopped on the bike and pedaled their way to freshly blended smoothies, adding energy, excitement, and plenty of smiles to the day. The interactive activity remained one of the event’s most popular attractions and highlighted the connection between physical activity and healthy living.
In addition to the day’s activities, Gateway distributed 90 meal kit bags to members. Each kit contained ingredients for a complete and nutritious meal, including fiesta chicken, rice, salsa, corn, black beans, chips, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and cheese. Designed to be both accessible and easy to prepare, the meal kits provided members with everything needed to create a healthy meal at home.
Thanks to grant funding associated with ABC Day, all food, supplies, and meal kits were provided at no cost, ensuring that every member could participate and benefit from the event.
ABC Day continues to serve as a powerful example of what can be accomplished through strong partnerships and shared commitment to community well-being. By bringing together members, staff, and Aramark volunteers, the event fostered meaningful relationships, promoted healthy lifestyles, and created lasting memories for everyone involved.
Gateway extends its sincere gratitude to Aramark for their continued partnership and dedication to supporting our members. We look forward to many more years of collaboration and impact together.
