Deborah, far left, with members of the Sons of Italy at an event catered by the Enterprise Culinary Team to raise funds for Enterprise’s February competition.
Deborah Leedy, site admin at our distribution center in Redding, California, started volunteering 20 years ago at her local church. What began as a once-a-week commitment has since grown into dozens of hours dedicated to multiple organizations each month.
In addition to continuing to volunteer at church, she also works with the American Legion and Shasta County Women in Timber — along with Enterprise High School’s Continuing Education program and Victory Recovery House, where she now spends the bulk of her volunteer time.
“At Victory House, I get to help women who are homeless or trying to get out of drug and alcohol addiction,” she says. “I provide support and resources so they can get back to work and begin moving forward with their life again. It’s not easy, but watching these women grow and overcome obstacles keeps me going.”
Over at Enterprise High School, she volunteers with the culinary arts and hospitality management program. There she helps teach disadvantaged and disabled students life and job skills, including chaperoning the students to compete in local and national culinary competitions.
“Deborah is the embodiment of our Inclusion and Citizenship values,” says Malissa Webber, communications manager, Roots News & ERGs, and one of Deborah’s Volunteer of the Year nominators. “Her love for her community is apparent in every conversation, and she's an amazing representative as she works across business lines to help Weyerhaeuser show up anywhere we're needed.”
Deborah’s other nominator, Nikk Ryan, Distribution area general manager, agrees.
“While nonprofit groups and community organizations need financial capital, they will fail to be impactful without human capital,” he says. “Debbie provides that in abundance. Personal sacrifices must be made every day to make time for others, and through these sacrifices she’s touched and affected the lives of countless people in the broader Redding/Shasta communities.”
For her dedication to education and youth development, Deborah was named one of our 2024 Volunteers of the Year. As part of the award recognition, she received a $5,000 TREE-mendous Matching Gifts reward, which she will be splitting among several organizations she supports.
Deborah and the Enterprise Culinary Team, with celebrity chefs Mickey Mouse and Jet Tila, during the Cooks Around the World competition at Walt Disney World in Florida.
MEET DEBORAH
Tell us a bit about your day job.
I’m the site admin at our Redding distribution center. We’re a smaller site, so I do a little bit of everything! I especially enjoy the operations aspects of my job, when I work on production planning and assisting the sales department. I'm also active in our Employee Resource Groups; I'm on the lead team of E-WOW and the co-lead of COLORS. This summer, I’ll celebrate my 11th year with Weyerhaeuser.
What did you think when you found out about the award?
I typically like to stay incognito when it comes to recognition for my community service. When Nikk told me he was thinking of nominating me, I was honored to be considered. It was a pleasant surprise to actually win!
What motivates you to volunteer?
It really is just being able to help people. I’ll admit sometimes it’s hard. But when I’m in the thick of it, I remember why I go. Sometimes it’s the little kids or students who are happy to see me; other times it’s connecting with other women who just want to tell me about what’s been happening in their life.
Deborah participates in a fundraising event with Women in Timber, which raised more than $11,000 for scholarships.
What made you choose Victory Recovery House and Enterprise High School?
I’ve been working at the Victory Recovery House in Redding for the last two years, and I usually spend 10 to 20 hours a month there. Homelessness has been rising in many areas, including in Redding and throughout California. I wanted to do something to help, and mentoring women struggling from homelessness and drug addiction seemed like a good way to start. Some of the women just need extra support to get back on track with their life.
I also volunteer 10 to 12 hours a month at Enterprise High School. Many students there are from low-income families or are in foster homes. Those are huge disadvantages for these kids, and they often seem to find it challenging to believe in themselves. The school’s Culinary & Hospitality program helps teach them to believe in themselves while they learn crucial life skills like the importance of working together and community.
What is your favorite part of the work?
Seeing kids or women believe in themselves. We were able to help one of our EHS students get a scholarship after winning a culinary competition we compete in. He ended up with two degrees, one from a New York college and one from Cal Poly Pomona. Not everyone has this type of success story, but seeing them achieve something because someone believed in them is amazing.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to give back but doesn't know how or where?
Try starting with something you’re passionate about — and give it some time. If it’s not for you, there’s no harm in walking away to find something more in line with what you want to do. There’s no need to commit to anything long term. If you struggle to find something you are passionate about, just start somewhere and keep volunteering until you find your passion.
What have you learned by volunteering?
I’ve learned to see homelessness and addiction in a different way, and to be more empathetic and sympathetic to people who are struggling with those challenges. Realizing here are no easy answers to homelessness motivated me to look for a way to be a part of the solution. I think that can apply to other things as well.
Deborah, center, sporting Weyerhaeuser gear, with members of the Enterprise Culinary Team.
What’s next in your volunteer plans for the year ahead?
I’ll be volunteering at the Shasta Cascade Logging Conference for Education Day at the Shasta County Fairgrounds in February. That will be a lot of fun! We are going with 700 fourth graders and will be teaching them about logging.
How are you distributing your $5,000 TREE-Mendous Matching Gifts grant?
I’m thrilled that I can make a generous financial impact to multiple organizations! I’m giving $1,000 to Victory House to put together individual hygiene bags for the ladies. I’ll give $500 to Covenant House, an organization that supports homeless LGBTQIA+ youth — I learned about it by participating in our COLORS employee resource group. I’ll give some money to the YMCA, and the remainder will go to EHS for culinary team expenses.
