Day of Caring: Employee Spotlight on Eric Impton
Each year, Day of Caring brings volunteers together across DeKalb County to help local homeowners and organizations complete hands-on projects. Organized through the United Way of DeKalb County, the event has become a longstanding volunteer opportunity for DeKALB Molded Plastics employees.
Eric Impton has been with DeKALB for about seven years. He started as a Manufacturing Engineer and recently transitioned into the Setup Manager role, where he is working to strengthen changeover procedures and improve efficiency. His involvement with Day of Caring began during his first year with the company, when a few coworkers told him about the event and encouraged him to sign up.
He enjoyed the experience enough to keep coming back. Over the years, his involvement in the community has also expanded beyond the volunteer day. Eric now serves on the United Way of DeKalb County Board of Directors.
Why Eric Kept Coming Back
Eric’s first Day of Caring gave him a chance to work alongside coworkers in a setting very different from their normal workday.
“I enjoyed working with my coworkers in a non-work environment to help our community,” he said.
As he continued participating, Eric began to recognize how much even a relatively small project could matter to the person receiving the help. A job that takes a volunteer crew a few hours may address something a homeowner or organization has struggled to complete on their own.
“It has made me realize that even a small gesture can change a person’s day or week,” Eric said.
One project from his second year of volunteering still comes to mind.
A Day Eric Still Remembers
The DeKALB team had been assigned to help a homeowner with several projects around the property. The list included trimming trees, cleaning gutters and assembling a shed.
Work was moving along until heavy rain arrived about halfway through the day.
The group took shelter in the garage during the strongest part of the storm. Whenever the rain eased, everyone headed back outside and picked up where they had left off. They kept at it until the shed was assembled and the project was finished.
Everyone was drenched by the end of the day.
“I still drive past the house every now and then to make sure the shed is still standing!” Eric said.
The experience also reflects one reason Eric believes Day of Caring works well for DeKALB. Projects vary from year to year, and the company’s employees bring a wide range of practical experience with them.
“We always have someone on the team that understands the project and what it will take to complete it,” he said.
Seeing Coworkers in a Different Setting
Community involvement has remained a consistent part of DeKALB’s culture during Eric’s time with the company. He credits Chairman and CEO Rick Walters and President Doug Bonecutter with continuing to support local organizations and encouraging employees to get involved. Several employees also volunteer on their own time through committees and organizations serving Butler and the surrounding area.
Day of Caring gives those employees an opportunity to work together outside the plant.
“It is a great sight to see my coworkers work together outside of work,” Eric said. “We might not be as on task as we are at work, but we can have a fun time and get the task at hand done quickly and efficiently.”
The experience changes the dynamic for a day.
“When we do projects like Day of Caring, we don’t feel like coworkers, we feel like a family,” he said.
Getting More Involved with United Way
Eric’s experience with Day of Caring eventually became part of a broader interest in community involvement.
His father had set an example years earlier. He lived and worked in Butler, became well known throughout the community and later served on the DeKalb Eastern Community School District school board. As Eric got older, he began thinking about how he could take on a larger role himself.
An opportunity came through DeKALB. Eric’s boss at the time, Chris Clear, had served on the United Way Board of Directors for many years and was nearing the end of his term. Chris asked Eric if he might be interested in joining.
Eric spoke with United Way Executive Director Tyler Cleverly about the opportunity and decided to take it on.
“I thought it sounded like a great way to get involved with the community and haven’t looked back since,” he said.
Serving on the board has given Eric a closer look at needs throughout the area, including some he hadn’t previously been aware of.
“There are all different types of needs throughout our community, many of which I didn’t know or realize until I got more involved,” he said.
The experience has changed how he thinks about community service. He now pays closer attention to where needs exist and how he may be able to help address them.
What a Day of Caring Can Accomplish
Eric says Day of Caring generally brings together around 900 volunteers in a county with a population of roughly 44,500 people.
Each crew may spend the day focused on one homeowner or organization, but hundreds of volunteers working across the county can complete a substantial amount of work in a short period. Eric sees the turnout as a reflection of how many local businesses and individuals are willing to contribute their time when help is needed.
He has also watched many of the same DeKALB employees return year after year. Some bring tools from home, while others contribute knowledge from previous projects or personal experience. Those longtime volunteers are one of the things Eric appreciates most about DeKALB’s continued participation.
He also values the consistency of the company’s support. When Rick and Doug took over the business, DeKALB continued participating in Day of Caring and supporting other community efforts.
Eric’s own involvement began with coworkers asking if he wanted to help with a local project. Seven years later, he is still volunteering with the DeKALB team and serving on the United Way board. His experience reflects the kind of long-term participation that has kept Day of Caring part of DeKALB’s community involvement year after year.