Is giving back to the community an important part of your workplace culture? Corporate philanthropy is a wonderful way for employees at all levels of an organization to come together and make a positive impact in the lives of others.
Some of the most vulnerable members of our society include the over 400,000 U.S. children in foster care. The majority of these kids have been removed from their homes due to neglect, which is entirely preventable when families have connection to caring supports within the local community. Your co-workers can be mobilized to generously give their time, talents, and treasures to lift up local children in care and prevent devastating outcomes of homelessness, incarceration, and trafficking. Explore these five ways to help a child in foster care and get involved in the way that works best for your company:
1. Celebrate
Depending on where you work, there could be people within your company who are foster parents or who have adopted a child from foster care. Let them know how much you appreciate them by writing a personal thank you note, surprising them with a gift card, or inviting them to share their story with you over coffee. Your encouragement may be just what they need!
2. Educate
Coordinate a lunch and learn where employees can learn about the foster care crisis and the need to get involved. If possible, invite a child welfare worker to speak about the number of children in foster care in your community, reasons why families are referred to the child welfare system, what resources and supports are needed, and more.
3. Collect
Invite your co-workers to gather clothes, toys, stuffed animals, blankets, hygiene items, games, and activity books to donate to children in foster care. You can also give items or experiences for foster/adoptive families to enjoy such as gift cards, movie passes, event tickets, and memberships to places in the community.
4. Respond
Sign up your company to respond to the needs of vulnerable children and families through CarePortal. The platform makes it easy to assemble your response team, receive alerts when an urgent, vetted need for a nearby family is shared, and mobilize your team to respond.
5. Donate
Rally your co-workers and donate funds to an organization that serves vulnerable children and families. Be sure to ask your HR department if your company matches donations so that your gift can make double the impact. If you’re not sure where to start, browse CAFO’s list of trusted organizations and agencies.
