On a cold morning in December 2022, hotel employees across Michigan began collecting an unusual donation: socks.
By the end of the drive, boxes at Amerilodge Group properties held more than 5,320 pairs, all bound for The Haven Foundation, which supports survivors of domestic violence in Oakland County.
The item was chosen for its practicality. Socks, staff at Haven explained, are among the most needed but least donated goods. For Asad Malik, the CEO of Amerilodge, that small detail captured what he wants the company to stand for. “It’s about listening closely to what the community really needs and then stepping up,” he said.
From Shelter Supplies to Lifesaving Blood
This wasn’t the first time Amerilodge had organized a community-wide effort. In April 2020, as hospitals struggled with blood shortages early in the pandemic, the company opened its Wyndham Garden Sterling Heights property to the American Red Cross. The drive produced enough donations to help nearly 70 patients.
Red Cross staff say Amerilodge has become a reliable partner. “When there is a need for blood or a community need, they are always there, always stepping up to help,” said Bridget McCormick, a donor recruitment representative who worked on the Sterling Heights event.
Paul Scalzi, general manager of the hotel, added that the effort reflected more than corporate policy. “We feel honored and privileged to help our community in a time of need,” he said.
Why Small Acts Carry Weight
Both the sock drive and the blood donations highlight Amerilodge’s approach to philanthropy: practical, local, and hands-on. Neither effort grabbed national headlines. Yet for the people on the receiving end, the impact was immediate. Families entering shelters were given brand-new basics. Hospital patients received blood transfusions that quite literally kept them alive.
Malik says that’s the point. “These aren’t photo opportunities for us. They’re responsibilities. We strongly believe it’s our obligation to be involved in our local communities.”
Philanthropy as Part of the Business
Amerilodge manages hotels across Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, serving both business travelers and families. Malik insists that community programs are not side projects, but part of the company’s identity. Staff at each property help choose local causes, and hotel operations are often reconfigured to accommodate drives and events.
The company approaches them with the same attention to logistics it applies to weddings, conferences, and daily operations. Collections are coordinated, staff are given ownership, and results are reported publicly. This consistency, Malik argues, makes philanthropy less about charity and more about culture.
What the Community Sees
For local nonprofits, Amerilodge’s efforts provide more than material support. They signal long-term reliability. The Haven Foundation now counts on the company’s annual contributions, while Red Cross organizers know the Sterling Heights hotel can host future drives.
The trust extends to guests and employees as well. Travelers increasingly favor companies that show social responsibility. Employees, meanwhile, say the drives give them pride and meaning beyond the work of running a hotel.
Rethinking Hospitality
The hospitality industry is built on service, but Amerilodge is pushing that idea further — service not just to guests, but to neighbors. In Malik’s view, the two are inseparable. A hotel that supports its community, he argues, will naturally create a stronger experience for travelers.
“Hotels serve guests for a night,” he said. “Communities, we serve for generations. That’s the real legacy.”
A Model for Others
Amerilodge’s initiatives may seem modest in scale — a few thousand socks, a single day of blood donations. But they illustrate how consistent, thoughtful action can redefine what a business means to the people around it.
For Malik, the lesson is clear: hospitality isn’t confined to the lobby or the guest room. It’s written in how a company responds to the quiet needs of its neighbors, and in how those neighbors remember it long after the checkout receipt fades.