Most of our work happens behind screens. Tickets move through a board, code ships, and projects take shape one sprint at a time. It’s demanding work, but it isn’t the only kind we value.
There’s a market around Easter that raises money for local causes, a donation drive in December for kids who’d otherwise go without gifts, and, this summer, two days spent with the Romanian Red Cross. Each one has its own reason for existing and its own place on the calendar.
This summer’s two days took us to Cluj-Napoca and Valea Ierii, in partnership with Crucea Roșie Română. Both asked something different of us, but both meant the same thing: a full day handed over to someone else’s needs.
Cluj-Napoca: Rebuilding, one piece at a time
Our first stop was Cluj-Napoca, where we spent the day supporting families who had recently lost their homes and belongings to fires.
The work happened in a storage room stacked with donated furniture and boxes waiting to be sorted. Beds, wardrobes, and tables slowly took shape, while appliances got tested one at a time before they were cleared to go anywhere. Then, we sorted through boxes of donated items so they’d be ready to hand out. By the end of the day, the room looked less like storage and more like the start of several homes.
From there, the Romanian Red Cross took over, making sure everything reached the families who needed it.
Valea Ierii: Building playgrounds
A short while later, that same energy found a new purpose in Valea Ierii. This time, the task wasn’t to rebuild something lost, but to build something for the sake of joy.
The camp is one of the Red Cross’s summer programs, where children can enjoy an active summer. Split into two teams, we were tasked with designing an obstacle course for the kids. We planned each challenge, set up every activity, and even tested the course ourselves before the children had their turn.
The effort behind it
None of this would have been possible without the Romanian Red Cross and the colleagues who stepped in to help, whether that meant tightening screws, testing appliances, or figuring out how to make an obstacle course both fun and safe for kids.
We’re proud of what we built together in both places. Days like these are becoming part of how we define ourselves as a team, and we’re already looking forward to what’s next.
Know a cause we should hear about? If you represent an association or a cause you think could be a good fit for us, we’d love to talk. Reach out at [email protected]
