Food Drive Competition At GRS

Shawn Folks • November 25, 2020

At the heart Guarantee Restoration Services, our team strives to emulate five core values each day. One of those, partnership, is at the forefront. Not only are our business partnerships important, but also our charitable partnerships that allow us to help people in need. That’s why this year, our executive team challenged our team members to a food drive competition!


We challenged our 4 branches to see who could bring in the most canned goods. The office who brought in the highest percentage of food items compared to the amount of staff would win a pancake breakfast. In addition, we committed to our employees that GRS would match however many foods were donated. For about two weeks our team competed int the food drive, bringing in vegetables, pasta, cereal and other shelf-stable items.


On November 23rd the food drive competition ended at 10:00 AM sharp, and the donations were counted at each of our locations. Combined, our team brought in 523 food items! We are proud to announce that our Gulfport, Mississippi branch won the food drive competition this year.


Later in the week, I went shopping at Calandro’s Supermarket, along with our Director of Human Resources & Safety, Marcie Richardson. These specific food items will be donated to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Our other locations in Gulfport, Lafayette and New Orleans will make monetary donations to the organizations noted below.


EMPLOYEE FOOD DRIVE – DONATION MATCH SHOPPING TRIP

FOOD DRIVE IN GULFPORT │GULF COAST COMMUNITY MINISTRIES

Like I mentioned above, our Gulfport office was the victor in our branch-wide food drive contest. The small, but mighty location donated 127 goods. Their donation will go to the Gulf Coast Community Ministries in Gulfport. This awesome organization feeds the hungry, clothes the poor, assists the sick, among other services. It has served the region since its inception in 2003.

FOOD DRIVE IN BATON ROUGE │ GREATER BATON ROUGE FOOD BANK

Our Baton Rouge staff was able to bring in 205 non-perishable items. Again, the items purchased at Calandro’s will be sent to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. GRS is proud to support this tremendous organization, like it has previously done so earlier this year. The GBRFB has served the hungry in 11 parishes surrounding Baton Rouge for more than 30 years.

FOOD DRIVE IN LAFAYETTE │ SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF LAFAYETTE

Next, our Lafayette team contributed 141 canned goods to the competition. They were narrowly defeated by the Gulfport branch by 0.5%. Their donations will go to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Lafayette. This organization was started in New Orleans going back to 1983, and it expanded to the Acadiana region in 2004. Together, they serve 23 South Louisiana Parishes.

FOOD DRIVE IN NEW ORLEANS │ CITY OF KENNER FOOD BANK

Finally, our New Orleans office was able to donate 50 items to our food drive. Their food items and monetary match will be given to the City of Kenner Food Bank. This organization works in conjunction with the Second Harvest Food Bank of New Orleans to serve the people of Kenner.

IT’S TURKEY TIME, BUT ALWAYS AVAILABLE 24/7

We gracious to our generous team, who competed in the food drive and look forward to hosting similar events next year.

As a reminder, our offices will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Friday, November 27th. No matter how full we are from turkey or tired we are from Black Friday shopping, our team is available 24/7, which is not just a number, it’s a GUARANTEE. For property damage emergencies, contact Guarantee Restoration Services at 800-349-HELP (4357) or email info@guaranteerestoration.net.

CONTACT US
By Christina Mullins June 10, 2026
Meet Cassie Bertrand, Claims Representative at Guarantee Restoration Services. Learn about her journey, role at GRS, and passion for helping others.
By Adrianne Hungerford June 3, 2026
Hidden moisture can damage commercial buildings long before it's visible. Learn the risks, warning signs, and importance of professional mitigation.
By Jeremy Cryer May 27, 2026
On the Gulf Coast, preparation isn’t optional. It’s simply a part of doing business. From hurricane season to heavy rain events and everything in between, properties in Lafayette face a different level of risk than most. And when something does happen, the difference between a smooth recovery and a stressful situation often comes down to one thing: having a plan in place with the right team. Why Pre-Loss Planning Looks Different in Lafayette Pre-loss planning looks a little different here because the risks are different. It’s not just about knowing where your shutoffs are or having a list of contacts. It’s about understanding how quickly a storm can shift, how water can move through a property, and how to respond when multiple buildings or locations are impacted at once. That kind of preparation requires more than a template. It requires local knowledge. At Guarantee Restoration Services, our Lafayette team builds pre-loss plans with that in mind. We take into account the specific challenges that come with properties in Acadiana, including wind-driven rain, tornado threats, and the potential for widespread damage across an entire area. That allows us to create a plan that is realistic, not just theoretical. The Importance of Having a Clear Path Forward “We’ve seen how quickly things can escalate during a storm event. Having a pre-loss plan in place gives our clients a clear path forward instead of trying to figure it out in the middle of the chaos,” said Craig Rose, Mitigation Manager at our Lafayette Branch. That “clear path forward” is what makes the biggest difference. When a storm hits, response times are everything, but so is access. Roads can be blocked, power can be out, and communication can be limited. A strong pre-loss plan accounts for those variables and ensures that response efforts can begin as soon as it is safe to do so. Protecting Operations, Employees, and Tenants It also helps property teams stay focused on what matters most. Instead of trying to coordinate vendors, track down information, or make high-pressure decisions, they can follow a plan that has already been built around their property and their priorities. From a business standpoint, that level of preparation protects more than just the building. It protects operations, tenants, employees, and timelines. Building Trust Before Disaster Strikes “Pre-loss planning is about building trust before there’s ever a problem. Our clients know who to call, what to expect, and how we’re going to support them when something happens,” said Paige Hebert, Business Development Representative in Lafayette. That trust and familiarity matter, especially in a region where large-scale events can impact entire communities at once. You are not just calling a company, you are calling a team that already understands your property, your risks, and your expectations. Be Realistic. Be Ready. Pre-loss planning on the Gulf Coast is not about over-preparing. It is about being realistic and ready. Because when the next storm comes through Lafayette, it is not a matter of if you will need a plan—it is a matter of how well that plan works when it is put to the test. Call us today to schedule your Pre-Loss Planning meeting where 24/7 is not just a number… it’s a GUARANTEE!
VIEW ALL BLOGS