Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘what are you doing for others?’”

Three times this month, employees of three local businesses have answered Dr. King’s question, trading their slacks and loafers for jeans and work boots for a whole day of service to their communities.

Midwest Energy and Communication, United Way of Southwest Michigan and Chemical Bank each gave their staff a day off work, so long as they donated the time they would have been in the office to a service project. Employees spent time weeding gardens, washing facilities, doing inventory of book collections and cleaning parks, among many other tasks.

This growing trend is a wonderful contribution to the community, and one that other operations should follow.

As we talked to employees who participated in these efforts, we continually heard that the days of action activated the employees to find other ways to give back to their communities, and, by extension, invited others to join their efforts. When a person comes home excited about the work they have done that day, suddenly that person’s spouse or children are giving back, too.

When folks walking through the park see volunteers in brightly colored shirts voluntarily pulling weeds and picking up rubble, they are inspired to do their part as well.

I think often as business leaders we forget that the communities we serve are even more important than the services or products we provide, because without thriving communities, there are no people to serve or to purchase our goods.

Anyone who has every volunteered understands the sort of buzz that comes with giving themselves to the service of others. When we do good together and share those good vibes, our bond grows stronger and we get to know each other better and in new ways. That kind of camaraderie goes a long way once people return to the office and begin working again on our own service or products.

I know I can speak for everyone impacted by these generous acts of kindness when I say the efforts of the employees who participated in the days of action at Midwest Energy and Communication, United Way of Southwest Michigan and Chemical Bank are appreciated and admired.

As we take advantage of the hard work put in by the kind folks at these businesses, let us all do our part and answer, “what are we doing for others?”

Ambrosia Neldon is the general manager at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7700, or by email at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com.