The value of Corporate Social Responsibility is not new, but with the current economic situation, staying competitive is more important than ever. The idea behind CSR activities is to set a different standard other than ranking higher in the search engines, and to get something back from their support and involvement. Companies willing to spend money on CSR can be more profitable, but what is most important, they can create better relationships with their stakeholders and communities.
Each company will have a different way of calculating the value of participating in community outreach & support programs. Some companies may consider CSR activities just as a “cost”, others may consider it as an investment and others will do it because they want to. Figures show that 80% of the US Fortune 500 businesses are using the Hidden Marketing Value of Corporate Social Responsibility reports or taking advantage of it.
Participating in community outreach and support may be something that’s not necessarily required by your projects or employers. But, doing so can give back to the community and benefit you in the long run.
According to the definition of Corporate Social Responsibility, “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to the voluntary actions with which businesses and corporations contribute to society as a whole.” The ultimate aim of CSR is to improve the quality of life by engaging with stakeholders who are interested in CSR and bringing them together.
Please see our Participate in Community Outreach & Support CSR activities page for more information on our outreach partner program.
Outline
- Park Cleanup
- Holiday Shopping for Underprivileged Families
- School and Library Book Donations
- Clothing and Household Goods Donation Drive
- Homeless Care Packages
Park cleanup
park cleanup for volunteers
planting trees and flowers with the community
maintaining parks
volunteering at homeless shelters
coordinating local soup kitchen activities
providing support during natural disasters
Holiday Shopping for Underprivileged Families
CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities, to participate in community outreach & support, have helped us to enhance the quality of life for our employees and their families. We believe that businesses have a responsibility to be good corporate citizens and contribute to the communities in which they operate.
As we are approaching the holiday season, we would like to reach out for your help with our annual Holiday Shopping for Underprivileged Families. Every year during the holidays, our company hosts an event where we fill a shopping cart with gifts for underprivileged families.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED FAMILIES
Get in the holiday spirit with your colleagues by adopting a family for the holidays. Organizations like the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and local school districts often have programs set up to help families in need. By shopping for the children, you’ll get to know them and provide them with gifts they really want.
FOOD DRIVES
Organize a food drive with your coworkers during the holidays to support those in need. Asking each employee to organize a collection box in their department can be a fun way to get everyone involved. Or ask each employee to bring in one canned food item on a designated day and offer prizes for employees who bring in the most items.
School and library book donations
There are many ways to get involved in communities and make a difference. Some activities are ongoing and require a sustained commitment, while others are one-time events.
Here are some ideas for CSR activities you can do to participate in community outreach and support.
Donate school or library books
Schools and libraries can always use book donations. If you have old books taking up space in your office that you no longer need, consider donating them to a school or library in the community. You can also donate new books if you want to go the extra mile.
Contact a school or library in your area to find out more about their book donation programs.
Take part in charitable races and walks
Many cities host charity walks and run throughout the year for causes like breast cancer research, autism awareness, muscular dystrophy research, Parkinson’s disease research, and many more. You can sponsor teams within these organizations, or form your own team of runners who will raise money for a particular cause.
Clothing and Household Goods Donation Drive
We are starting our Clothing and Household Goods Donation Drive. It will run through November 15th. Please bring your donations to the office and we can make a large donation together!
There’s a lot you can do to help those in need. Here are some ideas:
Food – While many people donate food during the holidays, the need doesn’t stop then. Many food pantries are in dire need of items year-round. Check with your local pantry to see what they need most.
Clothing – Donate lightly used clothing and shoes to organizations like Goodwill, Salvation Army, Dress for Success, or Pathways PA. You may even get a tax deduction from it as well.
Mentoring – Mentoring is something that you can do on an ongoing basis throughout the year. There are so many kids who could benefit from having someone in their life to talk to about their problems or just have fun with like going fishing or playing video games.
Homeless Care Packages
- Homeless Care Packages
What You Need:
- A large box or large bag to pack the items in, plus supplies to decorate the outside of the package
- A list of people you want to put together packages for
- Items such as:
o Matching socks and underwear, all sizes (these are often the most needed/requested items)
o Gloves and scarves, of all sizes
o Hats, all sizes
o Toothbrushes and toothpaste
o Soap, shampoo, and lotion (travel size containers work well)
o Deodorant (travel size containers work well)
o Blankets or sleeping bags
o Chapstick and lip balm
o Band-aids and other first-aid supplies
o Flashlights and batteries (make sure they haven’t expired)
o Water bottles and snacks such as granola bars or other non-perishable food items (check expiration dates on these)
How to Do It: Decide how many care packages you want to put together. Then gather your group and head out to shop. Have a list of what you need to be prepared in advance.
The eWak platform
This is a well-known fact that today’s businesses have a responsibility to contribute to the communities they operate in. They can do it in many ways, such as supporting local charity organizations, providing financial aid to educational institutions, or playing an active role in community development projects.
eWak is a sustainable platform for organizations, institutions, companies, and individuals who want to participate in community outreach & support. This platform makes it easy for you to find or create activities that you can participate in or organize. We are also available to help you stay on track with your corporate social responsibility activities by providing the necessary tools and resources.
Let’s take a closer look at some ways that your company could use CSR activities to reach out to the community, show your dedication and support, and help people who may be struggling to achieve a better life. Communities are most valuable at their start. We can help each other through our strengths and talent and make a difference in the community. I hope everyone can show their dedication to society. Good luck.