It’s not surprising to see productivity wane as we approach the end of the year. Employees get distracted by the lure of both being strapped for time and anticipating vacation days on the horizon. Remind them you care and keep them excited about coming to work each day by promoting fun ways to give back to the community.
Find out which causes matter most to your employees
You can deploy internal marketing strategies to your heart’s content, but employees won’t commit unless they feel the company is supporting a worthy cause. Poll your employees to see what kinds of organizations they really care about with easy apps like Survey Monkey or Google Forms. You can also gather information the old-fashioned way with break room nominations on paper or a dry erase board. Empower people to vote for a cause.
Good questions can include:
- How do you like to give back over the holidays?
- Is there a charity or cause close to your heart that [Your Company] should support over the holidays?
- Do you prefer volunteering on location or collecting gifts at the office?
No matter what questions you ask, your employees will appreciate knowing their voices are heard.
Do a fundraiser for a good cause
There’s no shortage of mouths to feed when December rolls around. Use a matching program to show your company is committed to the cause. It’s important to do your research. Some organizations have a large presence but don’t do very well when it comes to directing the funds to those who need it. Sites like Charity Watch are great for measuring how far your dollars will go at an individual organization.
If you haven’t had success with fundraising in the past, try having departments compete against one other. You can tally up how much each department raises (average per person) and give a special prize to the department or team members who win. Competition can really bring out the best in people! You will be surprised at how motivated employees are to give when giving turns into a contest.
Run a clothing drive for children
While presents under a Christmas tree may conjure up visions of bicycles, video games, or toys, many kids just need a warm coat or good pair of shoes.
The Triangle AMA Impact team collected clothing at our Holiday Mingle event this past Tuesday, December 4th. The children were aged from Kindergarten to 5th grade and members donated a range of items from coats to warm scarves and gloves.
If you don’t have time to go shopping, monetary donations are always appreciated. The AMA has chosen to give to families in Eastern North Carolina who were impacted by this year’s devastating hurricanes, but there are plenty of grassroots efforts out there where you can help. Love to Know has a comprehensive list of places where you can donate toys and clothing throughout the holidays.
Volunteer your time
Giving your time getting to know the people you’re helping will teach you a lot about yourself. It’s also a great way to bond with others. Our AMA Impact team is pumped to get out in the community and serve this month. On Tuesday, December 18th, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., we will be helping at out the Salvation Army’s Christmas Cheer Toy Shop to assist parents in picking out toys and gifts for their children. On December 22nd, 27th, and 28th, we will be volunteering at Duke Children’s Hospital and packing toys from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Volunteering your time outside the office also helps people see with their own eyes that your company is committed to giving back. It’s important for senior leadership to get involved and show support for the efforts as well.
No matter what you do, find your own voice
There is no shortage of ways to give back this holiday season. It’s important to find the volunteer model that best fits your company. Once you find it, stick with it! Let your volunteerism be your company voice and help define your brand and your company culture.
Registration Links to Volunteer with AMA Impact in December
Salvation Army Toy Shop
Duke Children’s Hospital
- Pre-Christmas signup page (register to see individual shifts)
- December 22, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- December 22, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Post-Christmas signup page(register to see individual shifts)
- December 27, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- December 27, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- December 28, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- December 28, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
What is AMA Impact?
If you have a passion for volunteering and outreach and wish to participate in future AMA Impact events, please email AMAImpact@triangleama.org for more information. You can also check http://amatriangle.org/events-programs/ for regular opportunities. All AMA Impact volunteer events are open to the community and we encourage you to bring family in friends to share in the enrichment and joy that comes from serving others. We hold events, fundraisers, and other connection opportunities throughout the year.
****
Written by Ginger Reed, AMA Triangle Member.
