Employees at Treasury Wine Estates have stepped out of their offices and out of the wineries this week to help out a number of charities and not-for-profit organisations across the world as part of the company’s Global Volunteering Week.

Over the last week, Treasury Wine Estates’ staff have been doing everything to help support such organisations, from collecting litter to planting trees and cooking hot meals.

This is the first time the company has implemented the initiative globally, with all employees putting their usual work on hold to volunteer during the week. The week forms one of the core pillars in Treasury Wine Estates’ Corporate Responsibility program, which partners with some 20 plus charities and not-for-profit organisations, such as the Cleland Wildlife Park, Barossa Bush Gardens, Food Bank and Napa Valley CanDo, among many others.

Joining employees, Treasury Wine Estates’ CEO, Michael Clarke and Chairman Paul Rayner have also been helping volunteer this week. Mr. Clarke has been helping out at Melbourne-based food charity FareShare, which uses donations of surplus food from supermarkets, farmers and other businesses to give to soup vans, homeless shelters, food banks and school breakfast programs. Also in Melbourne, Mr. Rayner was helping at the Port Phillip EcoCentre and Friends of Westgate Park with litter collections and planting native vegetation.

“It’s great to be able to get out and support some of the charities that make a real difference. I am proud of the efforts of our employees and it’s heartening to see the positive impact we can all make by volunteering in our community”, Mr. Clarke said.