In a time when slogans seem to be, well, just slogans, it's really nice to find a company that backs up what it says. Honda has recently had a slogan that goes something like this, "We just want to be helpful." Imagine my surprise when a group of Honda employees showed up at my office door offering their help.

The five young adults, dressed in blue Honda shirts, carrying blue Honda messenger bags brought bottled water for me and my assistant, then explained that they were there to be helpful. They wanted to know what they could do to help me.

Now, as a person who runs a volunteer program of over 700 teens and adults, I am always looking for ways to help people volunteer their time and talent for the benefit of Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. So, I was ready and willing to put them to work.

Everyone sat down around a table to fold and stuff invitations to a park dedication event. The group stayed for about 20 minutes, accomplishing the entire task. When finished, they thanked me for the opportunity to be helpful, smiled, and disappeared as smoothly as they had originally appeared.

I figured that was the end of that. Boy, was I wrong. The group leader has brought her team back on multiple occasions to 'be helpful.' I have started calling them my Happy Honda Helpers. They have collated and stapled packets, stuffed envelopes, and pretty much any other office task I needed done on the day they appeared. I took their picture last time they were here just to show how terrific (and helpful) they are.

I found out that they are dashing around town offering their help to non-profits, government agencies, and wherever they think they can be helpful. So, the next time you see this group of Happy Honda Helpers or happen to be at the First Honda dealership in Simi Valley, let them know that it's nice to know there is a company out there who really means what they say when they just want to be helpful. I know I appreciate them.

(Story and photo by Colleen Janssen, RSRPD)