AbbVie employees in Mayo join forces for companies annual volunteering week

Nearly 600 employees from AbbVie’s manufacturing plant in Westport have come together for multiple volunteering projects, contributing more than 1,300 volunteer hours to the community.

The global biopharmaceutical company recently celebrated its ninth annual ‘Week of Possibilities’, which aims to empower employees to personally improve the localities where they live and work.

In Mayo, 240 employees took part in two projects close to the company's facility in Westport town. 

Volunteers transformed three garden spaces and revamped the canteen and computer room at Mayo College of Further Education to make the facilities' environment more inviting and conducive to learning. 

Michael Murphy, Principal, Westport College, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to take part in the event. 

He added: “The college management, staff and students will benefit for years to come from this transformation. Many thanks to all in AbbVie for their continued support.”

_{AbbVie Westport employee volunteers pictured busy during refurbishment works at the Mayo College of Further Education}

Across town, a small housing estate for older persons was given a new lease of life by another team of AbbVie employees. All ten houses received a bright new coat of paint, and the courtyard was newly refurbished.

Eithne Larkin, Westport Tidy Towns, called the difference made to the community ‘immense’, and was certain that ‘the residents are delighted going in their front doors’.

Prior to this work, a total of 336 AbbVie Westport employees came together to assemble 3,500 food packs during National Volunteering Week. These were distributed by various charity organisations, including Mid-West Simon, Cope Galway, Novas, and Tiglin at the Lighthouse, who support marginalised households and those who are homeless.

At each Week of Possibilities location, AbbVie selects projects that meet the greatest needs of local communities. 

AbbVie partnered with the national volunteer development agency, Volunteer Ireland, on the design and implementation of the projects.

Darren Egan, Site Head at AbbVie Westport, said AbbVie viewed supporting local community projects and the people involved with them as not just a responsibility but a privilege.

“We are deeply proud of our unique connection to our neighbourhoods. Through initiatives such as Week of Possibilities, we have the opportunity to return the kindness we have always received from the people of Westport and the wider local community in Mayo. 

“It means a lot to us to be able to support our community in this way,” he concluded.