From oats to hope: Schwab teams nourish communities together

Hair nets on, gloves snapped tight, and music pulsing through the room, a group of Charles Schwab employees stands shoulder to shoulder at long tables, forming a fast-moving assembly line. One person measures and scoops oats into a bag, passing it to the next who seals it shut. The sealed bags move down the line to be counted and packed into boxes. When a box is full, the team erupts in cheers—a signal for another volunteer to whisk it away so the next one can be filled. The energy is high, the purpose clear: to help fight hunger in their own communities, one meal at a time.

Across Charles Schwab campuses nationwide, thousands of employees are coming together to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing communities today: food insecurity. Through the company’s annual Harvest Pack event, employees are packing more than just meals—they’re packing hope, connection, and impact.

What started as a single-site event in Denver to bring people back together during the pandemic, has grown into a national movement. Now in its fourth year, Schwab’s Harvest Pack event has expanded to 16 campuses with nearly 4,000 employees packing over 1 million meals for local food banks.

Tessa Anderson, Schwab Community Affairs volunteerism lead, describes it as “a unifying national activity with local impact,” noting that every meal packed is delivered to the food bank serving the community where it was assembled.

In the U.S., more than 47 million people are food insecure, including 1 in 5 children¹. And hunger is more than just an empty stomach—it affects every part of a person’s life, including their ability to learn, work, and manage finances. 

That’s why the meals packed during Harvest Pack are designed to meet both immediate and practical needs. Each serving of fortified oatmeal is warm, nutritious, and requires only water—making it accessible for children, seniors, and families with limited resources.

The event also sheds light on the growing issue of suburban poverty and the rising demand at food pantries. “You see those aha moments when someone realizes food insecurity affects people they wouldn’t expect—teachers, neighbors, potentially even colleagues and their families,” says Tessa.

While the impact on the community is clear, the event also strengthens Schwab’s internal culture and delivers on the company’s commitment to support their neighbors and communities. Employees report feeling proud, energized, and more connected to their colleagues after the packing events. One participant shared, “It was amazing to see how Schwabbies come together when it comes to helping the community.” Another noted how, “Coming together can make a huge impact.”

The event creates camaraderie and also perspective. “It’s a shift in mindset,” explains Tessa. “You come back from packing meals with a renewed sense of purpose. The things you were stressing about before seem a little smaller.”

As more people get involved and see the positive impact, Harvest Pack is becoming a tradition that really matters to Schwab and the community. Employees are already asking about next year’s dates, and the event has become a highlight of the company’s Season of Giving—a time when Schwab employees dedicate nearly 8,000 hours to support their community food banks, soup kitchens, and local service projects.

As Tessa puts it, “People look forward to it. It’s become part of our culture. And it’s making a real difference.”

And while Harvest Pack events take place during the holiday season, Schwab recognizes that hunger is a year-round issue, which is why Charles Schwab Foundation also provides $20,000 grants to each participating food bank to help sustain their operations beyond the event. It’s a reminder that the need doesn’t stop—and neither does the commitment to meeting it.