Guest Blog by Monica LaFerla
Corporate giving is the foundational support of many organizations and non-profits alike. Not only do these companies have the resources to provide such support, they also have the means to encourage and help their customers, employees and even those they aren’t affiliated with to make a donation.
There are a variety of campaigns that corporations can run – from hosting on-site food drives to offering employee match programs or paid time off to volunteer. Some of these opportunities will not even cost the company any funds or resources, and the additional traffic that these campaigns create may even increase the company’s profits. Additionally, it helps bring their employees together by encouraging them rally behind a cause to help out their community.
For example, US Storage Centers – a large operator of self-storage facilities nationwide – used their available units at several stores nationwide, including Central Texas, to serve as hubs for donation drop offs during the holiday 2018 season, making it easier for our community to donate food without having to make the drive to the Food Bank.
As a result, they collected more than 25 pounds of healthy food, providing 21 meals to families in need. That is a great amount of donations and make a huge difference to food banks like ours.
If your workplace isn’t able to serve as a food drop off location, another great and easy way to get involved is by hosting a virtual food drive. You can set a monetary goal and encourage your co-workers to give. Raise the stakes by making it a competition between buildings, floors and teams to see who raises the most funds and who gets bragging rights as the best team. Get creative and get everyone involved to fight hunger. You can find more information on virtual food drives here.
If your company is looking for a team-building activity, why not sign up for a volunteer shift at the Food Bank? Whether you’re making meals in our kitchen, inspecting food in the warehouse, harvesting produce or distributing food to families in need, we know that your team will have fun fighting hunger. Sign up for a shift here.
Please remember that any contribution, from a small monetary donation to a $1 million grant, to your time, is important to the advancement of local organizations, and by extension, the communities they serve. For the Food Bank, each gift helps to nourish Central Texans in need across a huge 21 county service territory.
Giving back is easy and much-appreciated! Your efforts can make a huge difference in the lives of those who need assistance. Corporate social responsibility will allow employees and customers to feel great about your company – and maybe even encourage them to donate as well – while also providing a new means for companies to increase their own profits. What goes around comes around!
