As the year comes to a close, the holiday season offers a meaningful reminder of who we are and why we do what we do. At Morales Group, our mission to Build Better Futures, One Story at a Time goes beyond the work we do every day. It shows up in how we serve others, support our communities, and choose to pay it forward — especially during a season centered on generosity, reflection, and connection.
Paying it forward is more than a moment; it is a mindset. It reflects our belief that when we invest our time and energy into others, we help create stronger communities and lasting impact. That spirit was on full display during our recent Company Serving Day at Shepherd Community Center.
Serving 500 Families Together
On December 17, teammates came together at Shepherd Community Center on Indianapolis’s near Eastside to serve alongside one another with a shared purpose. Throughout the morning, our team worked to kit and assemble 500 boxes of food for local families, helping ensure they could celebrate Christmas with dignity and support.
In addition to assembling food boxes, teammates spent time decorating cookies and wrapping gifts with students ranging from pre-K through fifth grade, representing seven different classes. These moments of creativity, laughter, and connection brought the day to life and reminded us that service is just as much about presence as it is about productivity.
Through serving, we chose to invest in what truly defines us: a team that shows up with grit, humility, and heart. Even when the holidays get busy and the calendar is full, we will still find a way to come together to make a difference.
About Shepherd Community Center
Shepherd Community Center is a faith-based nonprofit organization established in 1985 with a powerful mission: to break the cycle of poverty on the near Eastside of Indianapolis. Through a comprehensive Continuum of Care, Shepherd supports neighbors from cradle to career — and beyond — by addressing physical, emotional, spiritual, and academic needs.
Located within the community it serves, Shepherd offers programs for children, teens, adults, and families, meeting people where they are and walking alongside them toward long-term stability and opportunity. It was an honor to partner with an organization so deeply rooted in service and impact.
Closing the Year With Purpose
After a morning of service, teammates gathered back at Morales Group Corporate Headquarters to share lunch and reflect on the experience together. It was a fitting way to close out the day — and the year — strengthened by connection and shared purpose.
Serving together reminded us why our mission matters and how powerful it is when we live it out as a team. Thank you to everyone who showed up, lent a hand, and helped make this day meaningful for our community and for one another.
Together, we closed out the year by Building Better Futures, One Story at a Time.