“We all care about each other here. We are humans before we are workers,” said Emily Bruch, Administrative Coordinator at POET Bioprocessing – Coon Rapids.
When a powerful tornado tore through the town of Greenfield, Iowa, it left behind a path of destruction that affected countless lives. But in the face of such devastation, the community's strength and unwavering support shone brightly.
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Erin Lantz, Administrative Coordinator at POET Bioprocessing – Menlo, recalled the shock of realizing that the storm had indeed hit close to home. “We have a lot of our team members that live there. Their family members live there. It’s not very far from here,” she said, reflecting on the urgency and immediacy of the situation.
The day after the storm, POET team members were quick to mobilize, offering their time and resources to help with the recovery efforts. Bruch described how, despite the initial chaos, the community quickly came together.
"The next day, I went and volunteered with the Cass County Pork Producers, serving pork burgers for all the residents," Bruch said. “Though there were high emotions and tears, everybody was good about being positive and uplifting others. Then, there was an outpouring of donations to local organizations and churches. Several organizations had to briefly pause their collection efforts after 12 hours because donations were so plentiful.”
The POET team worked closely with local authorities and other organizations to coordinate their efforts. "The general managers of all the Iowa POET facilities were talking, and we were constantly checking out Facebook and the emergency management page to see what was needed," Bruch said.
Several POET – Menlo team members volunteered their time to support the Greenfield Fire Station as they worked to remove all of the undamaged equipment from their damaged building. Another POET team member brought a skid steer to Greenfield to help families whose homes were destroyed. Brett Stender, POET – Menlo’s Maintenance Manager, was nominated as a Hometown Hero for his efforts in the days and weeks after the tornado. Lantz made trips to local stores to pick up specific essentials requested by relief organizers.
The close-knit nature of the community meant that everyone knew someone affected, making the response deeply personal for many.
“It brought everybody together just like any tragedy does, which is unfortunate, but it really does make you get a perspective on what’s important,” said Lantz.
POET vendors also pitched in. Grainger, in collaboration with POET – Menlo, provided safety glasses, gloves, and tarps for relief efforts. BWC made monetary contributions to Greenfield and impacted families.
“I was incredibly proud and appreciative of the efforts of the Menlo team during and after the storm,” said Chris Morey, General Manager of POET Bioprocessing – Menlo. “Learning that all our team members and their families were safe was a great relief. What is overlooked in the entirety of this incident is the attitudes and commitment of those team members who came to the plant to keep it running when our impacted folks had to go care for their families.”
Efforts and outreach were not made by POET’s Iowa teams alone; teams from other plants across the POET network supported the Greenfield community and impacted team members. From monetary and supply donations to support from the POET Impact Team to individual encouragement and prayers, the entire team came together and displayed that their bond extends beyond the walls of their workplace.
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“We are family. And when one part of the family suffers or struggles, we all do,” said Melissa Fletcher, POET Life Enrichment Advisor. “We come together to support one another, to encourage others, to assist during times of need, and to pray. The POET Prayer Team was notified, and we began to pray for all those involved. Every week during our weekly prayer team meetings, each family was prayed over, along with all those providing relief and care. I am honored to serve at a company that places such high value on its team members and joins together in unity and selfless love.
POET offered Volunteer Time Off to any team members who volunteered in the Greenfield area. POET’s prayer team faithfully prayed for individuals and communities impacted by the tornado every week and kept in contact with the bioprocessing facilities for specific prayer intentions and requests.
“Thank you to POET for offering volunteer hours,” said Bruch. “Also, for the outpouring of love, reach, and support for all team members, really. It wasn’t just team members who were affected and who felt POET’s support. It was producers and people across the community.”
Through their actions, the POET team not only provided tangible support to those in need but also demonstrated the power of community and the importance of standing together in the face of adversity.
“I can’t say I was surprised by the response of POET teams to our needs,” said Morey. “Thirteen years have taught me that the POET team is an incredible family that comes together remarkably to support those in need. Whether it be Seeds of Change, Community Engagement, Earth Day clean-up, or donating to a team member whose entire home was destroyed, the POET team can be counted on to make a difference.”
