Aprons, Advocacy, and the Power of Showing Up: Hobbs & Associates in the Classroom

There's something special about walking into a school and watching kids light up over something as simple as an apron. That was the scene when the Hobbs & Associates Richmond, Virginia team joined RC Longan Elementary School — part of Henrico County Public Schools — for the opening assembly of Human Ties: A Collection of Longan Food Stories.

What Is Human Ties?

Human Ties is a community literacy and cultural connection initiative centered on food — the stories behind what we eat, where those traditions come from, and how sharing food can bridge differences and build understanding. Students, families, and community partners come together to explore books about foods from different cultures, contribute their own recipes and food stories, and create a living collection that encourages families to try new things together.

It's exactly the kind of whole-community, relationship-first programming that makes schools more than just classrooms. And it's the kind of event Hobbs & Associates is proud to be part of.

Our Contribution: Aprons and Presence

With support from Hobbs & Associates' Richmond office, our team provided aprons for the students — a small gesture that turned out to mean a great deal. As Heather Woods, Project Administrator with AIR Control Concepts, shared with us:

"We're helping spark conversations around food, culture, and shared experiences. We'll be reading books about foods from different cultures with the students and contributing our own food stories and recipes to a growing collection that encourages families to explore new foods together."

The response from the school community said it all. The Family Advocate at Longan told us: "Everyone LOVED having you all here! The aprons are a HUGE hit — kids are proudly wearing them through the hallways!"

There's nothing quite like hearing that.

The Team That Made It Happen

Events like this don't happen without people who are willing to show up — not because it's required, but because they genuinely care. A huge thank-you to the Hobbs Richmond team members who made the day a success: Melissa Peebles, April Wilson, Colin Jones, Eric Davies, Kelley Bucholz, Michael Williams, Nathan Delong, Bradley Hancock, Alexis Zamparelli, Alyssa Mayton, and Aaliyah Powers.

This team reflects what we believe Hobbs & Associates is at its core: a group of people who bring the same care and intentionality to community involvement that they bring to every customer interaction and technical project.

Why Community Matters to Us

Hobbs & Associates serves commercial HVAC customers across Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, and the Maryland/DC region — and in each of those markets, we're not just a vendor. We're neighbors. Our team members live in these communities, send their own kids to local schools, and invest in the places they call home.

Supporting initiatives like Human Ties at RC Longan is one concrete way we live that out. It's not about branding or visibility. It's about being the kind of company that shows up — for customers, for trade partners, and for the communities that make this work worthwhile.

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Hobbs & Associates is a commercial HVAC manufacturer's representative with offices across Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, and Maryland/DC. Learn more about our team and values on our About page.