Twice a year, DTE Energy’s Monroe Power Plant team takes empowering their community to a whole new level. Since 2021, the plant has held volunteer days on the Friday before Memorial Day and the Friday before Labor Day, offering employees the opportunity to start their holiday weekends by giving back.
This year’s Memorial Day event brought about 120 volunteers to a dozen local organizations to pull weeds, make repairs, deliver bags of food and even build a handicap ramp, all to benefit the Monroe County community.
“Our Monroe Power Plant employees live in these communities,” said Molly Luempert-Coy, DTE regional manager. “They volunteer and sit on boards, and this is another great way for them to give back to the places they live and work.”
Volunteers pitched in at Paula’s House, the Monroe Senior Center, Monroe County Opportunity Program, United Way, Gabby’s Ladder, Salvation Army, Woof Lodge, Ash Park, the Table, Sawyer Homestead, Family Counseling and Shelter Services and the River Raisin Battlefield Education Center. The combined hundreds of hours of help makes a big difference for these organizations.
“The non-profits that we help are always struggling with budgets,” said Dan Casey, manager of the Monroe Power Plant. “They need to focus the funding they have on the services that they provide. We help them accomplish tasks that are usually overlooked or not prioritized.”
The day is always beneficial for the organizations but it’s an event that benefits the volunteers, too.
“It is important for me to make sure the employees understand that volunteerism is priority of the plant and the company,” said Casey. “I love how excited the employees at the plant are to get out in the community and help. Giving back is a great way to start a holiday weekend!”
It’s all a part of a relationship that’s rooted in serving with energy and caring for what matters most.
“The Charities truly value the support from DTE and the Employees give of their heart, time and talents,” said Luempert-Coy. “This effort has built wonderful affinity for the communities we serve and gives everyone a real sense of teamwork and accomplishment.”
