Helping Hurricane Victims from Home
Americans are known for their uncanny ability to come together in the face of disaster and destruction. The hurricanes Harvey and Irma that just ripped through the southern part of the country are a perfect example of this. Organizations large and small have come together to help aid in the relief process. Companies across the country like Verizon, Kroger, Bank of America, Caterpillar and several more have made generous monetary and supply donations to help aid in relief efforts. Looking to help and make an impact locally while incurring positive PR for your business? Check out our ideas to help aid the hurricane victims.
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- Set up an office/employee volunteer day. Check with your local Salvation Army or American Red Cross to inquire about opportunities to volunteer close to home. Not only will your contributions help the cause, but working together outside of the office will help boost your team’s morale.
- Share your profit. You may not be able to donate millions like the bigger companies, but you can still make a difference with the help of your customers. Set up a promotion on certain items or dedicate a day to donate a portion of the profits to your relief group of choice. Bonus points for getting a press release out for the event to gain some news coverage.
- Create a challenge. Spark a little friendly competition throughout the workplace with a donation contest among your employees. Work with your local American Red Cross to set up a time to donate blood – and award those who donate with points or some other incentive. Team up with another local business and challenge them to a contest as well.
- Set up a donation drive. Find a list of needed items and offer your customers a coupon or a percentage off their purchase for donated items. This is a great way to encourage traffic to your store or website while giving people a location to drop off items.
- Establish an employee matching gift program. If your company is able to, incorporate a matching gift program where the company will match any donation made by its employees.
This hurricane season has already been absolutely devastating, but you can help inspire your local community come together to help those in need during these difficult times. For more information for you can do in your community, visit United Way’s website or this helpful article featured on USA Today. Below is a list of non-profit organizations to consider gifting donations:
