Workplace philanthropy: Have a Baby Shower for Those In Need

Recently, I added a new category designed to help give ideas of ways that workplaces can become more involved in meeting some needs within their communities.  Initially, the goal of this category is to highlight ways that employers can develop one-off opportunities for their employees to band together to do good in the community--- ideally, without tapping significantly into corporate profits. 

Today's idea is to hold a corporate wide baby shower to help families with small children who are having difficulty making ends meet.  The goal is to collect items that can be donated to local food pantries that can be distributed to those who need them.  Items that can be collected include: 

• diapers
• formula
• wipes
• baby food & cereal
• juice
• children's books
• small stuffed animals

Now--- I admit--- this idea seems to appeal only to the females in the office--- however, men can be enticed to participate by including some opportunities for competition--- with appropriate prizes offered to the winners. Games include:  speed diapering contest, Printable contests(Famous TV Fathers, Match TV children and parents to their TV Families, Daddy's Little Champion... a sports jargon quiz, raffle tickets), Name that Tune (instructions here), Office Baby Stroller Olympics (instructions here).  Participation is always better when there are prizes--- so be sure to get ones that will appeal to everyone and need not maintain the baby theme. 

Now-- to find an organization to which the items can be donated.  Usually this is easy--- someone in the group usually knows of a worthy organization that can distribute the goods.  However, America's Second Harvest has a "Find a Food Bank" tool that will help you find an organization in your community.

Comments

[Chris Crosby]

What a simple and great idea.

[Carol Kirshner]

Thanks for the compliment. I saw this idea work well for a giving circle that I know of here locally. I thought it would be a great thing to move into the workplace and could provide an hours reprieve from the cubicle--- all for a good cause.

[Tot Dots]

We have another solution - working with the Philanthropic Organizations like Children's Hospital and Research Center and Doctors Without Borders. We, TotDots design and sell baby/children gifts and donate portion of our revenues to these fine organizations.

[best-shoppe]

This would really be a very worthwhile project for everyone. It's really so difficult raising a child today with the high costs of milk, diapers, etc.