Since First Rate was born in 1991, the company values—Love, Give, Serve, and Enjoy—have been strategic to our mission. They run through the inner workings of our company. From employee interaction to high-level decision making to the level of service we give our clients, our values are a roadmap that continue to write a clear path towards uplifting the community. The holiday season is no exception when expressing the passion that we have for living out these values, and it is during this time that the needs in our communities become even more apparent. Below are just a few ways that we at First Rate are expressing our love and gratitude for our communities.

      1. Support Our Soldiers

This year, First Rate gathered together to serve the Support Our Soldiers organization. SOS is a non-profit that was created to connect our communities and military together. This organization sends care boxes, supplies, cards, and letters to soldiers deployed overseas. It is intended to show our soldiers in these remote locations that we have not forgotten them. Not only are we able to collect an abundance of donations, but we also have the opportunity to write personalized notes to each of the soldiers we sponsor, thanking them for their service and wishing them a happy holiday season.

For more information and how to support Support Our Soldiers visit: https://supportoursoldier.com/

      2. Giving & Serving Families through Mission Arlington

For over three decades, Mission Arlington—located in Arlington, Texas—has served the people in the Arlington community. This year, many of us at First Rate partnered with the organization to supply a family in need with their desired gifts. We enjoy the camaraderie of shopping and wrapping the gifts together before taking them to the shelter. In addition, many First Rate employees had the opportunity to volunteer as personal gift shoppers to help families in need select gifts for their children. With a mission to be an accessible and well-rounded support system, Mission Arlington’s goal is to give authentic help for each person or family when they need it the most.

For more information and how to support Mission Arlington visit: https://missionarlington.org/

      3. Lunch for the Homeless at Arlington Life Shelter

First Rate teams up with The Arlington Life Shelter four times a year (including during the holidays) to put together sack lunches for those in need. The Arlington Life Shelter has served the homeless community in Arlington, Texas since 1987. Their mission is to promote self-sufficiency by providing shelter, employment programs, and transitional services to homeless individuals. In 2007, Arlington Life Shelter received the National Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence award for the agency’s innovative services to the community.

For more information and how to support the Arlington Life Shelter visit: https://arlingtonlifeshelter.org/

Each year we look forward to the opportunities we have to give and serve our community. We are grateful for the support of our employees, clients and partners and we hope to continue to inspire others to love, give, serve, and enjoy.

From all of us at First Rate, we share our warmest wishes for a holiday season filled with joy, and a new year of peace and prosperity!