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Whether you are a business of one or one hundred, taking time out of your busy day to help others can make more of an impact than you realize.

Vistaprint’s “Vistacares” program was established a couple years ago to get employees out of the office and volunteering in the community.  Last month, we sent 2 groups of employees out to the Charles River Conservancy to help clean up overgrown plants along the riverbanks and the Greater Boston Food Bank to help sort and salvage food that is distributed across eastern Massachusetts.

I volunteered at the Greater Boston Food Bank with 24 other employees and was amazed by the operation and outreach they have.  In only a couple of hours, we sorted through 5,330 lbs of food, out of which 4,264 lbs were salvaged for distribution.  According to the food bank, our team of volunteers was able to make 109 meals possible to local families in need!

Seeing these numbers demonstrate the impact you can make in one brief afternoon.

I came across a survey by VolunteerMatch and UnitedHealthcare where approximately 4,500 people were surveyed in early 2010 regarding the benefits of volunteering.  This survey found that:

• 8 in 10 Americans agree that they would volunteer more if their employers helped provide the opportunity
• But only 4 in 10 Americans actually have plans to volunteer in 2010
  • Those who participate in volunteering activities report higher levels of life satisfaction, sense of control over life and feeling physically and emotionally healthier.
  • Company involvement in employee volunteer opportunities can lead to employee well‐being and positive attitudes towards the employer.

In an earlier post, we discussed some ways that your company can start to build your own charity program and give your employees the opportunity to volunteer.

When planning your own employee volunteer program (EVP), you need to first answer these simple questions:

• What is your goal? Are you looking to volunteer for one day or a much larger commitment?  Would you prefer a team building activity or individual contribution? Answering these questions first can help determine the type of organization your work with.

• What activities can you do to make an impact? Survey your employees to find out their interests or where they are currently volunteering.  This way, you will plan something that your employees will take to heart.

• Do you or your staff have any special skills that would be useful? Not only do organizations look for general volunteers or labor, many could also use graphic design, IT, marketing or other specialty help.

Whether you volunteer in a soup kitchen, clean up a public park or mentor a child, remember that not only are you making a difference to others, it is also rewarding on a personal level.  Putting your company name and employees in a positive light has many benefits within the community, but shouldn’t be the driving factor in your decision to help others.  Marketing or acquiring new customers should be an added bonus.

Have you implemented an employee volunteer program or had success with a past program?

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