How this charitable organization lives it
From the moment you join the Lighthouse Charity Team (LCT), you hear, “Welcome to our Family!” Their motto, “People Helping People - Cooking for a Cause” is demonstrated throughout their communities as they cook for weekly benefits and fundraisers.
Oftentimes companies tout, “We are family”, but don’t show it in their daily actions. The Lighthouse Charity Team has not only raised millions of dollars for their community, they have, time and again, stepped in to help their fellow LCT members in need:
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Installed an elevator for a team member’s spouse who could no longer walk up the stairs in her home.
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Paid for funeral expenses for a beloved team member who passed away.
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Held fundraisers for medical expenses incurred by team members.
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Bought medical equipment for a team members daughter who became a quadriplegic after being in a car accident.
The list goes on. The Lighthouse Charity Team considers themselves family and truly demonstrates it through their actions.
We meet every Monday night to debrief on the past week’s events and discuss upcoming benefits. A few weeks ago volunteer and retired Galveston Law Enforcement Officer Gordon Morse, brought two guests, James and Mary Tullier of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Gordon introduced James and Mary, and asked them to tell their story. What we heard was a tragic and heartfelt story about their son Nick, a wounded Police Officer.
Officer Nick Tullier was on duty July 17, 2016 when he was shot 3 times during an ambush on law enforcement officers in Baton Rouge. Three of Nick’s fellow officers were fatally wounded and miraculously, Nick survived. He was in critical condition, and spent many days on life support fighting for his life. The doctors did not hold out much hope that he would live and warned, if he did, that he would be in a vegetative state.
Nick defied the odds and came off life support within weeks, proceeding to gain strength in the fight for his life. He was transferred to Houston’s Texas Institute for Rehabilitation and Research for ongoing treatment. Shortly after arriving in Houston, the family suffered another setback. Severe flooding in Louisiana destroyed their home and all of their possessions. They were left with the clothes they had on their backs and the motor home they are now living in.
280 days later, Nick has astounded his medical team as he continues making progress. He was recently transferred to Galveston to continue treatment at the Transitional Learning Center, when their situation was brought to our attention.
As James wrapped up his talk, members of the 
Lighthouse Charity Team kicked into gear and asked how they could help. “You’re part of our family now, and we are here to help you and your son,” the team members said. Member James Henderson, owner of Sandpiper RV resort gave the Tulliers a spot to park their RV near their son’s rehab center. Once Mary, James and Nick are settled in, the LCT will discuss how to help with a planned fundraising event… as one of the members stated, "They may be from another city but when they arrive HERE, they are OURS!"
People Helping People is not a new concept. My newly published book, “How to Create a Happy Workplace” tells stories of award-winning top employers helping their own. It’s the right thing to do and organizations who take care of their employees create a fierce sense of loyalty and dedication.
What are you doing to promote that sense of family and how are you demonstrating it? Take a lesson from the Lighthouse Charity Team, whose volunteers have been with them for many years. They know, as part of the family, they can count on each other. Read about their incredible story in their newly published book, “Cooking for a Cause”.
Lorraine Grubbs is an author, speaker and business coach and works with companies to promote and create “Happy Workplaces”. You can learn more about what she does at www.lorrainegrubbs.com.
