The holiday season brings out the best in people and the best in the companies that keep goods moving. From toy and warm clothing drives to food banks, marathons, and volunteer cooking, pallet businesses large and small are finding ways to strengthen their communities during the holiday season and throughout the year.
Many companies make it a standing part of their culture. For them, helping others isn’t a box to tick on a customer’s vendor sustainability checklist; it’s part of what it means to be a good neighbor and a responsible employer.
And it is not just the community that benefits. Acts of generosity build goodwill with customers and local partners, strengthening your brand. Community outreach can also energize employees and create shared pride.
As Jess Bonsall, ESG director at 48forty, said, “When we take the time to focus on local organizations that don’t necessarily have the resources of larger, more well-funded organizations, our work becomes even more meaningful – both for those that benefit from the support as well as for those that participate in the work,” she added. “Our teams can tangibly see how much their volunteerism means to our communities – and that’s a win for everyone.”
Below, we celebrate a handful of the many pallet companies making a difference for their communities this Christmas season.
Rose Pallet: Volunteering at Ronald McDonald House
Westmont, Illinois-based Rose Pallet recently had eight employees cook for families in need at the Ronald McDonald House in Oaklawn, Illinois. Ronald McDonald House provides services for families with children receiving hospital care.
“They will be cooking a homemade meal from scratch for those who have children in the hospital next door,” explained Mia Allen, CEO and co-owner of Rose Pallet. “We feel that families that are well nourished and can enjoy a homemade meal might take the slightest burden off the stress they are feeling with a child who is in medical care at the hospital.”
Oxnard Pallet: Giving Back, One Santa at a Time
Out west, Oxnard, California-based Oxnard Pallet has found its own unique way to spread holiday cheer by supporting runners in Santa hats. The company proudly sponsors the Santa to the Sea Half Marathon, a Ventura County tradition that began as a local toy drive.
The event starts beneath a giant 1950s-era Santa statue that once stood along Highway 101. Now, relocated in Oxnard, the large figure serves as a symbol of generosity and community spirit. Each December, runners race from the Santa landmark to the breathtaking Channel Islands Harbor, gathering toys and donations along the way.
Under the leadership of owner Beatrice Vasquez, Oxnard Pallet has sponsored the race since 2017, helping sustain the event’s mission of giving back. “At Oxnard Pallet, we’re honored to help keep this tradition alive, because when our community comes together, everyone crosses the finish line,” shared Kat Vasquez, speaking on behalf of the company.
Palleton, Inc.: Warm Hearts, Warm Hands
Each winter, Omaha, Nebraska-based Palleton, Inc. reaffirms its commitment to helping those in need through its Christmas Toy Drive and Winter Clothing Drive. Employees, customers, and suppliers collaborate to collect and distribute toys, coats, hats, and gloves. These small comforts make a big difference for families facing financial hardship during the coldest months of the year. “These annual initiatives focus on supporting families and individuals experiencing financial hardship during the coldest months of the year,” explained Jason Kaiser, Account Executive.
But Palleton’s generosity doesn’t end with the holidays. The company sponsors the Omaha Burke Lacrosse Club, a 501(c)(3) that teaches teamwork and sportsmanship to youth in Nebraska, and provides ongoing support to Thomas Jefferson High School athletics in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
“These efforts reflect Palleton’s broader mission to operate not only as an industry leader, but as an active, responsible corporate citizen committed to improving the communities it serves,” Kaiser concluded.
PECO Pallet: A Year-Round Culture of Giving
At PECO Pallet, community engagement is an ongoing commitment. Each quarter, its Culture & Community volunteers lead new initiatives designed to make a meaningful local or national impact.
In 2025 alone, PECO associates supported March of Dimes and Girls on the Run, launched a “Bikes Build-Off Charity Event” that delivered brand-new bicycles to families through the Graton Food Pantry, and wrapped up a campaign supporting Homes for Our Troops, a cause especially close to the company’s heart. PECO employs veterans from every branch of the military, and it states that helping build accessible homes for those injured in service is a natural fit.
The company’s Q4 initiative supports the Diabetes Association. Beyond fund-raising, employees regularly volunteer at local food banks and humane societies and collaborate with Soles4Souls, donating pallets through PECO’s operations, transportation, and recovery teams.
“Whether seasonal or ongoing, these efforts reflect PECO’s belief that giving back strengthens communities and reinforces our culture of teamwork and excellence,” said Isabel Blackbird McMurrich, manager of marketing and communications.
48forty Solutions: Rolling Up Sleeves for Houston Families
At 48forty Solutions, community service comes naturally to the Houston-based team, including causes like Target Hunger and Gracewood.
At Target Hunger, a food bank, employees pack food boxes and organize drives that deliver groceries to families in need. Gracewood, a Houston women’s shelter, provides transitional housing and support for single mothers and their children. 48forty staff hold themed donation events to bring a little light to families rebuilding their lives.
Allowing employees time away from work to share provides an experience they might not otherwise experience. “Our team appreciates having a community touchpoint, but personal commitments after work often prevent folks from being able to do so,” 48forty’s Bonsall explained. “Having the chance to step away from the office to give back to the communities in which we operate is appreciated.”
Giving comes in many forms, far more than are listed here. Whether Oxnard’s festive marathon, Palleton’s toy and warm clothing drives, 48forty’s food and women’s support efforts, Rose Pallet’s volunteering at Ronald McDonald House, or PECO’s varied initiatives, business success and community wellbeing are intertwined. We salute our many industry members who are making a difference, this and every Christmas season, through their acts of generosity.
