Alvogen employees pose before starting this year’s clean up. (Photo by Tyler Murphy)

NORWICH – Every September, the employees of Alvogen take part in a community clean-up project. This year it was on Friday, September 16 as part of the 10th annual Alvogen Day Community clean-up event.

“We do it every year to give back to the community and as a team building event for employees,” Said Alvogen Human Resources Manager Luke Murphy.

“It's a day we close down the facility and bring all the employees into the community. We work with between 20 to 25 different organizations and to spruce up the downtown and get things ready for fall and the holiday season.”

A number of the company's employees and families live in the community and over the past several years significant focus has been put on “Alvogen Day,” when the company closes regular business for the day and sends all of the employees out to local groups to perform community services and clean-up projects instead.

In addition to organizing Alvogen Day the company runs an internal United Way campaign, holiday Thanksgiving food baskets and a charitable golf outing.

During the day on Friday workers will be landscaping, washing windows, cleaning the inside of buildings, painting, rebuilding and doing anything else to help.

Norwich Pharmaceuticals had about 300 employees at this year's Alvogen Day, aiding locations such as the Place, the YMCA, the Council of the Arts, and various other groups.

Before breaking up into teams assigned to local charities and groups, the company also thanked the work of the local Business Improvement District and the help of community volunteers Tracy and Mindy Chawgo.

Alvogen is the parent company of Norwich Pharmaceuticals, a corporation located in 35 countries with about 2,300 employees globally. Norwich Pharmaceutical originated in the City of Norwich in 1887.