Big Hearts on a Small Island

At IDEX Health & Science, our commitment to innovation extends beyond the lab and into the heart of our local communities. On a small island in Washington state, the Oak Harbor facility is proving just how powerful this commitment can be.

Employees are making a meaningful difference through hands-on volunteer work. Whether they’re caring for service animals or collecting food for families in need, the Oak Harbor team brings unwavering energy, compassion, and a deep commitment to strengthening their community, and they show no signs of slowing down.

“This team consistently demonstrates a deep commitment to community engagement, rallying together to support the organizations and volunteer opportunities funded by the Foundation over the years,” said Andrea Rivers, IDEX Foundation Site Coordinator for Oak Harbor. Andrea has been the coordinator for 8 years and helps coordinate requests and activities.

Speaking of impactful results, the Oak Harbor site collected a whopping 5,175 pounds of food in the recent company-wide food drive. This mountain of food was donated to North Whidbey Help House, and the IDEX Foundation contributed $10,000 to support their mission.

“I love to see the results.  When we participate in a food drive, and you see this huge mountain of food that we've collected, you get excited to drop it off at a local food bank. You know these food banks are counting on us. They're waiting for that delivery so they can help people in need. It’s heart-warming,” said David Hendrix, Facilities Manager and EHS Coordinator in Oak Harbor.

David has been involved with every single community outreach effort at Oak Harbor for over 19 years and received the Volunteer Hero award in 2024.​ While David is often the driving force behind a lot of the volunteer efforts, he emphasized that it takes a village to make the volunteer magic happen.

The Secret Ingredient to Oak Harbor’s Volunteer Magic

“We have a high percentage of people who are willing to give back to the community. I think that's largely because we are family-focused here. It's a small community. A lot of folks are either military families or former military families—it creates a bond, and volunteering helps strengthen those relationships,” added David.

This strong sense of camaraderie is evident in the team’s numerous volunteer efforts. Over the past few years, they’ve come together to support a wide variety of causes—from Earth Day clean-up events and Summit Assistance Dogs to the North Whidbey Help House food bank. They’ve also made a difference by supporting breast cancer patients through Bonkers Over Books and empowering local youth with Positively Linked.

The Impact Is Measured with Heart, not Hours

In 2024 alone, their impact has been remarkable—over 140 hours and $40,000 donations from IDEX Foundation—and the momentum continues to grow! In 2025, the donation total is $85,000, and the team has participated in 15 events, showing that this team's momentum is only building.

Often, employees use up their yearly eight hours of company volunteering in the first two months. They wind up donating more time throughout the year on the weekends, an incredible testament to their dedication to the community.

“We have a high percentage of people who are willing to give back to the community. I think that's largely because we are family-focused here. It's a small community. A lot of folks are either military families or former military families—it creates a bond, and volunteering helps strengthen those relationships,” added David.

This strong sense of camaraderie is evident in the team’s numerous volunteer efforts. Over the past few years, they’ve come together to support a wide variety of causes—from Earth Day clean-up events and Summit Assistance Dogs to the North Whidbey Help House food bank. They’ve also made a difference by supporting breast cancer patients through Bonkers Over Books and empowering local youth with Positively Linked.

What Keeps the Momentum Going?

“We create some friendly competition. We have nine different buildings with different functions in each one. So, we'll say whichever building gets the most canned corn this week, we offer a free lunch or cookout,” said David.

The Oak Harbor team also constantly introduces new ideas and organizations to support, which also keeps the team engaged. “This broadens our reach and reinforces that our commitment goes beyond financial contributions. This team truly embodies the spirit of service and community impact,” added Andrea.

This team will surely continue to make big waves in this small island community.

Learn More About Our Other Community Service Activities