How good companies build great community

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/02/2022 (463 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Corporate leadership typically comes from ‘the boss’ or ‘management’. But almost every business has individuals throughout the company with untapped leadership and team-building potential. They possess energy, ideals, initiative and ideas that go beyond their job description. All they need is an opportunity.

The Harvest event

One of the best options for harnessing this energy is a Harvest event. Helping Harvest in its mission to feed hungry kids and families is a project your staff can own. It doesn’t compete with or require fulfilment based on job titles or internal power structures. And that’s its superpower.

 

Harnessing the power from ‘within’

 

Harvest events are successful because they get their energy from two powerful motivators:

1) Shared values — In this case, the desire to help others, and;
2) Agency — The way people rise to the occasion when you empower them to ‘make this thing happen.’

 

Getting started

 

Usually it starts with a champion; one person from HR or management making a phone call. But it can also come from an individual employee who hatches a plan over coffee or puts up a note in the lunchroom (see illustration). Either way, it ends up inspiring and involving personnel from across the office or the organization. Inspired people working together to help others can do amazing things.

Inside outside options

Create a Harvest event of your own or choose from menu of tried-and-true options. It can be a food sort party or hamper packing challenge at Harvest or a COVID-savvy employee fundraising picnic that happens outside, in a park, or in the corporate parking lot. Or you can host a Shop for Harvest event whereby you can donate a percentage of monthly sales proceeds to Harvest. There are so many ways to give, and your team may come up with a unique event that will be fun and meaningful for your teams while supporting a great cause!

Let’s get the ball rolling!

All it takes is one employee to get the ball rolling. Make an exploratory call to Mika, Harvest’s community events manager at 204-982-3670 or email mpeterson@harvestmanitoba.ca and she can get you started.

Depending on the scope of your campaign, we may be able to provide additional supports, such as:

• Listing your event on our online calendar;
• A co-branded fundraising landing page;
• A quote from our CEO for your communications;
• Providing an official letter to confirm that you are raising funds for Harvest;
• Providing an impact statement;
• Providing food collection bins and food pick-ups (subject to minimum food donation amounts and drivers’ schedules);
• Providing tax receipts for eligible donations to your event, drive or campaign;
• Providing official acknowledgement letters to your supporters.

The corporate coming together

When staff and management stand side by side to help feed hungry kids, families and people at risk — sorting food, packing hampers, donating cash proceeds —  it can nourish the corporate ‘family’ as much as it does those who are receiving food. Studies have shown that when participants are also the driving force, the buy-in and community-building get even stronger.

Invite your champions to come forward

If you want to tap into the ethics and energy of your team, give Harvest a call. They have everything you need to engage your people in a Harvest event that makes everyone feel like they are on an active, positive team, in a community of Harvest Stars.

Contact Mika Peterson, Harvest community events Manager, at 204-982-3670 or email mpeterson@harvestmanitoba.ca