Published April 10, 2026 | Categories:
At Beacon, giving back is the foundation of who we are. To kick off 2026, BeaconCares continued its tradition of centering its Q1 efforts around Advancing Education, while also launching an exciting new initiative: adopting Thatcher Road in Greensboro. Together, these efforts reflect both our passion for education and our dedication to making a tangible, local impact.
Our first BeaconCares event of the year set the tone for what would become an impactful quarter. Beacon team members partnered with Guilford Education Alliance (GEA) to help with a major organizational move. What we anticipated would be a full day of heavy lifting quickly turned into a day of fun and unexpected surprises, including a literal (but small!) dumpster fire, which the team quickly conquered.
In just three hours, the team not only put out an actual, real fire but also emptied an entire storage container, packed and organized countless supplies, and cleared out a warehouse space.
By the end, everything was completed far ahead of schedule to the delight of GEA. Our volunteers enthusiastically kicked off a year of service by embodying the spirit of BeaconCares: have fun, work hard, and make a meaningful difference in our community.
Beacon returned to our friends at the Black Child Development Institute (BCDI) this year for a memorable afternoon of reading, crafting, and playing! When the BeaconCares committee reached out about if we could schedule a visit, BCDI Program Director Tonya didn't hesitate, "Absolutely yes! Our kids always love the craft, Beacon brings the best and most engaging story, and they talk for days about the games."
Inspired by that enthusiasm, our volunteers planned a hands-on experience centered around the book The Circles All Around Us by Brad Montague—a story about inclusion, acceptance, and making the world a better place. After the story, the Beacon team helped the children make their own bracelets to commemorate the theme of circles before breaking out into games of Jenga and cornhole.
BCDI staff later shared their appreciation not only for the fun activities, but also for Beacon's growing book donation collection. We're proud to see this direct result of our commitment to education getting bigger and bigger each year!
In addition to supporting education-focused organizations, BeaconCares expanded its impact closer to home this year by adopting Thatcher Road at our Greensboro office. Across multiple days this quarter, Beaconites rolled up their sleeves, pulled on safety vests, and got to work improving the area surrounding our office.
From picking up everyday litter to hauling away larger discarded items like hoses, tubes, cardboard (and even abandoned furniture!) the team tackled a wide range of challenges in a very short time. Volunteers collected and consolidated a significant amount of debris for City of Greensboro pickup, resulting in a visibly cleaner, safer stretch of road that our neighborhood is already enjoying.
Just as impactful as the results was the experience itself: time spent outside enjoying lovely springtime weather, shared laughter and exercise, and a sense of pride in taking care of our environment. We can't wait to see the final before-and-after photos at the end of 2026!
As BeaconCares continues throughout 2026, we'll build on this momentum with ongoing Thatcher Road clean-ups. We're also looking forward to our next annual tradition of Helping Four-Legged Friends in Q2 with our friends at Guilford County Animal Services and Horsepower Therapeutic Learning Center.
To everyone who participated this year so far: thank you again for carrying forward Beacon's tradition of care, commitment, and community!
Want Beacon to come help out with your Greensboro or Wilmington area non-profit or service initiative? Get in touch with us or learn more about BeaconCares here:
