And Holiday Cheer…
There is no doubt that the holiday season looks different this year, requiring everyone to get creative in the way that they celebrate. The traditional holiday parties and cookie exchanges were seemingly impossible to do virtually. Although Baseline managed to put together the next best thing which we named the “Holiday Challenge.” This consisted of three separate parts which encompassed different key aspects of the season such as giving, crafting, baking, and more.
The first of these challenges involved giving back to our communities through Baseline for Community (B4C). Each office location chose a different organization to donate to: Salvation Army Angel Tree in Loveland, Gilpin County Wish List in Golden, and the El Paso County Senior Assistance Program in Colorado Springs. The Angel Tree and Wish List programs assist children from families that are less fortunate, by fulfilling their wish lists. The Senior Assistance Program helped seniors who are struggling to meet their basic needs. Baseline had the pleasure of donating to over twenty families which started off December with some much-needed smiles and cheer.
Furthermore, our socially-distanced festivities continued with an ornament design competition. All offices were equipped with clear plastic bulbs that opened and closed—allowing for décor inside the ornament. Participants were asked to express what this year represents to them in this four-inch bulb. The theme of “2020” brought along a lot of clever designs and insight into people’s interpretations of this crazy and unpredictable beginning of the new decade. As expected, this couldn’t be a competition without some rewards; the top three bulbs were recognized for their creativity and relatable themes of 2020 from the need for toilet paper, to binge watching new TV series, to being stuck at home.
Lastly, the holiday challenge wouldn’t be complete without some baking. Although a cookie exchange seemed impossible to pull off virtually, we developed a new company tradition through our brainstorming efforts instead. We created our first-ever annual recipe book to help make up for missing out on the best part of a cookie exchange: taste testing. Everyone gathered their favorite recipes and made cookies with their loved ones. They then submitted their recipe and photos. Since the cookies couldn’t be sampled, the most festive, most creative, and most appetizing cookies were voted upon. There was some tough competition as submittals consisted of candy canes, macaroons, traditional German cookies, gingerbread bars, and everything else in between.
In lieu of our annual holiday party, Baseline delivered cozy boxes to employees that included grocery gift cards, beanies, throw blankets, Yeti mugs, and S’well bowls to encourage people to stay safe and, for those who can, work from home.
Like all things in 2020, festivities may have been extremely different than the normal, although there were plenty of reasons to appreciate the new ways that we celebrated this season. In a time where it sometimes seems easier to be negative than positive, we worked together to find the best in this situation. Through our efforts to make the season special, regardless of the circumstances, a lot of joy resulted from this challenge that may have never been done otherwise. Baseline is extremely lucky to have such an incredible team of people that work together to uphold an incredible company. Additionally, we’re more than thankful for our clients, partners, and any other supporters that have helped us through this unforgettable year. May your holidays be full of warmth, family, and good health.
