As lead claims analyst for Columbia Gas of Ohio’s corporate insurance department, Todd Borland works with numbers and regulations, a good fit for a personality that’s sometimes described as introverted.
So, when Heidi Gossett, director of corporate insurance, challenged her team to give back to the community through volunteer work, Borland was maybe the last person anyone expected to join in.
“My norm is to be the wallflower and avoid eye contact … [but] it was a good challenge to take on,” said Borland, who has become a consistent and reliable volunteer for the LifeCare Alliance Meals on Wheels program in Columbus, even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
When Gossett set the challenge, Borland remembered that a friend and former manager often talked about how she worked with Meals on Wheels. That, and his own personal focus on nutrition and clean eating, led him to choose the food program as his charity of choice.
“It was something that clicked with me,” said Borland, “and it felt like it was good to help the community with their nutrition as well,” particularly those who are elderly and disabled and who depend on the Meals on Wheels program for their basic needs.
Borland says he volunteers about once a month, roughly 40 hours every year, packing food in sealed containers and delivering meals to homebound families. That mission became even more important to him when the pandemic hit, as these families were forced to be increasingly isolated. The families he visits likely wouldn’t describe Borland as introverted, since he always makes a point of asking his clients about their day; talking sports, including his favorite Ohio State football; or sharing stories about his big and lovable Great Dane, Moose. “I could talk about Moose and Ohio State all day long,” he said with a laugh.
When he learned that he’d been recognized as Columbia Gas’ 2020 Columbia Cares Volunteer of the Year, Borland said he just “sat there in shock.”
“It’s definitely a team effort,” said Borland, who is among several Columbia Gas of Ohio employees supporting Meals on Wheels; his wife, Natalie, also often volunteers with him.
“You know, you don’t realize it until you do it, but when you go and hand somebody their lunch for the day, they’re so appreciative of that,” he said.
