Didacus Guzman could look at his account each payday but would never notice a few dollars are missing.

He knows the money is gone, and looking back on it, that feels pretty good.

Guzman, safety director at Quality Pork Processors in Austin, is one of roughly 1,100 employees at the company who donate to the United Way ever year. He fills out the pledge card, and the United Way takes its share come payday. To Guzman, there really is no noticeable effect, but to the United Way there is. For a many at QPP, it’s the way to go if one wants to help the community.

“Oh, absolutely,” Guzman said. “Maybe a couple cups of coffee is what it boils down to. When you think of it in those terms, it’s minimal. If we were all to give up two to three cups of coffee per week, could you imagine how far along things would be?”

For 11 years Guzman has donated to the United Way’s annual campaign. Before that, at his previous job, he wasn’t well aware of the United Way annual campaign, which in Mower County aims to raise $1.1 million for critical services for disabled, poor, needy children, pregnant mothers, community events and more.

“There’s more of an activism here in this town with the United Way, and where I came from that didn’t exist,” Guzman said.

Guzman isn’t a hero, or boastful about his efforts. But he’s a heck of an advocate, like several others at QPP.

“I participate in trying to motivate everyone, get everybody together,” he said.

Guzman and those employees part of a “solicitation team.” They encourage others within the company to pledge money to the United Way.

“We’ve asked for volunteers, and we’ve been very fortunate in the volunteers we’ve been able to recruit,” Guzman said. “They come from different walks of life, and they are a very good representation of the people who work here.”

In a large company room, flags of various countries hang from the ceiling, representing QPP’s workforce, and the community. It reminds employees they are all a team, but each individual is recognized, as well. Because the company campaign touches on such a personal level, perhaps it is more effective.

“Anybody can ask for money, and if you don’t make that connection, nobody is going to give you anything,” Guzman said.

On Wednesday, when QPP announced its employees raised $145,000 and more money than last year, Guzman and others celebrated. The company offers prizes, like paid vacation, a day as supervisor, televisions, cooking appliances and more. Banners with all donors names hang in the hallway, and hearts with top donors are displayed prominently in the middle. Still, QPP’s campaign would likely be a pretty effective one without giveaways and incentives.

“I feel strengthened by the fact that more people participate, but do I require them to do it? Absolutely not,” Guzman said.

Each month, QPP distributes a company newsletter, highlighting health and safety, company updates, industry news and more. Of course, Guzman compassionately wrote about the United Way campaign. Here is a snippet of what he included: “When we least expect it, that will be when some sort of assistance could be a welcome grace. There is always an excuse to say no, but to rise above the misconceptions is the challenge … Giving is an extension of our humanity. Stop asking what can be done for you, and ask what you can do for all!”