Alcoa celebrates International Volunteer Day

Calvary Youth Services received a helping hand from Alcoa employees who spent the day painting crisis accommodation for young people struggling with homelessness in Mandurah.

More than 400 workers from Alcoa’s Pinjarra Alumina Refinery have epitomised the spirit of International Volunteers Day, on 5 December, by volunteering for more than 1,640 hours to help about 40 community groups and charities in the Peel region.

The Alcoa employees have rolled up their sleeves in recent months to help a broad range of local not-for-profit organisations including Safe Women Safe Family, Red Cross, Halo, Homestead for Youth, Pinjarra Community Men’s Shed, K9 Rescue Group, Pride in Peel and Fishability Mandurah.

Alcoa Pinjarra Alumina Refinery Manager Mark Hodgson said he was immensely proud of the contribution his colleagues were making.

“Alcoa is proud to be an engaged and supportive partner in the local community and we encourage and support our employees to also make a positive difference,” Mark said.

One team that did just that was the Alcoa Pinjarra Training Department, which helped Calvary Youth Services apply a fresh coat of paint to crisis accommodation for young people struggling with homelessness in Mandurah.

The theme for this year’s International Volunteer Day is ‘Together We Can Through Volunteering’, capturing the essential role of volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mark said despite the challenges presented by pandemic, Alcoa’s volunteer program had continued to operate under careful health and safety guidelines.