By Grace Houser

t Extra Space Storage, our mission to “help people to a better tomorrow” extends beyond simply providing a clean, secure place for our customers to store their belongings. We also have a commitment to create a positive impact within the communities we operate, including 43 states and Washington, D.C. As the person who oversees our various volunteer and community programs, I have the privilege of watching this commitment turn into action every day. My team has designed several programs intended to empower our team members to give back to their local communities, because we know the strength of our business is linked to the strength of our neighborhoods.

We recently had the opportunity to organize several volunteer events where over 120 employees from the Extra Space corporate office in Salt Lake City, Utah, joined together to volunteer with USANA Kids Eat, a wonderful local nonprofit working to eliminate hunger in Utah schools. It was an incredible experience, not just for the sheer volume of work accomplished but for the energy of the team united together for a great cause.

Throughout the volunteer shifts, team members spent time at the USANA Kids Eat warehouse packing weekend backpacks filled with non-perishable food items for students who typically rely on school meals during the week. When school meals are unavailable during the weekends, many kids are left at risk of going hungry. A single bag can make a huge difference, offering nourishment and comfort to a child on those critical days away from school. It was rewarding to know that our work will directly help ensure kids have enough to eat over the weekend.

“With the support of partners like Extra Space Storage, we’re able to deliver thousands of meals each week to children who would otherwise go without,” says Angelia Vierra, USANA Kids Eat’s development manager. “Their generosity and volunteer spirit truly embody what community is all about.”

It was inspiring to see team members from various departments and roles come together to focus on a single goal. Here’s what a few of our employees had to say about their experience volunteering:

“Spending time volunteering with USANA Kids Eat reminded me how powerful even small acts of service can be. It’s easy to talk about building a better future, but that future starts with how we care for our children today. When we put their needs first, we’re not just helping individuals—we’re strengthening families, communities, and entire generations.” —Rachael Richmond, Facilities Associate Project Manager

“This is my third year volunteering with USANA Kids Eat and the Extra Space team, and I always make it a priority to join. I love seeing the care and intention behind how they support kids and families, and it’s inspiring to see the impact on our local neighborhoods. Plus, it’s a fun way to spend time with the team while doing something meaningful together.” —Haley Schettler, Risk Management Senior Analyst

“I really appreciate the opportunities we have as Extra Space employees to give back to the community! Partnering with USANA Kids Eat gave our team a chance to connect outside of the office in compelling service. I was grateful to learn that Extra Space donated the food in addition to the labor from employees. All this directly benefits children who need meals in the Salt Lake valley.” —Steve Leyland, Director of FP&A

“This was an awesome experience—volunteering with USANA Kids Eat gave me a chance to help kids and families right here in our community. It was a lot of fun working alongside my coworkers, knowing that just a little of our time could make a big difference for so many. I love giving back and would absolutely do it again knowing that a child will have a meal.” —Kevin Coggin, National Solutions Center Senior Manager

“Volunteering with USANA Kids Eat was such a fun and meaningful experience. Working side by side with coworkers in an assembly line to pack food bags for kids was a fun experience filled with laughter, teamwork, and a shared sense of purpose. Knowing those bags would go directly to kids in need made the whole experience even more rewarding. I was grateful to be able to participate and enjoyed being able to support our community!” —Makayla Hill, Learning and Talent Development Coordinator

“Volunteering at USANA Kids Eat was a fun and wonderful experience. Serving and volunteering is a great opportunity to forget about yourself and brighten someone else’s day. These sweet kids are in a tough situation, so I hope it brightens their day knowing they will have food for the weekend.” —Jessica Jenson, Senior Accountant Supervisor

In addition to volunteering, Extra Space sponsored Heartland Elementary School in West Jordan, Utah, for the 2025 to 2026 school year. This means that the financial donation Extra Space made to USANA Kids Eat, combined with the collective volunteer efforts of our team, will directly benefit the children at this specific school.

By adopting Heartland Elementary, we are not only enriching the lives of these kids but also helping to foster a stronger, more compassionate community right in our backyard. These backpacks help ease the weight of worry for families and give kids the energy and confidence they need to thrive in school and beyond. It was rewarding to know that the hundreds of backpacks we packed will directly help ensure these kids don’t go hungry.

Our mission at Extra Space is to help people to a better tomorrow. You see it in how we serve our customers, helping them navigate life transitions by providing them with storage solutions that lead to a brighter future. You also see it in how we treat our employees, providing quality jobs and a supportive environment where they can thrive professionally and personally.

Our people are the key drivers of our performance and progress, and we believe that if we take care of our employees, they will take care of our customers, our facilities, and our communities. This philosophy is the engine that drives our business and our volunteering and community efforts. When our team members participate in one of our programs, they know they are playing a vital role in making a positive community impact. The recent event with USANA Kids Eat perfectly illustrated this mission in action. We also have several other initiatives in place to recognize our team and empower them to give back.

Here are a few other examples of these efforts:

• Paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO) – Our corporate employees receive VTO to volunteer and support causes that are important to them.
• Employer Donation Matching Program – We encourage charitable giving by matching employee donations, effectively doubling their impact on the causes they care about most.
• Team Extra Space Volunteers Recognition – We have a company-wide volunteer recognition program where we highlight one team member each quarter for their outstanding volunteer efforts. Many of our team members spend their free time volunteering, and this program is designed to recognize them for their ongoing dedication. We reward them with a personal bonus and a donation to the charity they volunteered with.

By providing these opportunities, we empower our employees to live out our mission and company values in their everyday lives. I’m energized by our team’s enthusiasm and look forward to continuing this work within the Extra Space community and beyond.