No matter what kind of business you’re running, it’s important to give back to the community that supports you. It is a great look to be generous after all. Giving back can garner talk within the community and be great for your image. During hard times, restaurants and bars often lead in the efforts to come together, raise awareness, and make a difference. Here, we have some ways to get involved in giving back:
Support a Charity
Finding a charity or organization to support is a nice direction to go. While supporting new charities each month can be nice, associating with one (or a few) regularly can really make a difference for that group. Specifically, choosing one that appeals to your target demographic would be a good idea. For example, if you’re in a modern area with lots of young people, the charities of choice could be different than an older community with lots of veterans. But there are some charities that work across all groups such as UNICEF, St Jude’s, and more. Associating with a charity will help with your image and show the community that you have good values.
Contribute to Schools in Your Area
Taking care of the youth in your area is a great initiative to take part in. There are many organizations that work to make sure kids are well fed at school. Studies show students will test better and be more productive in the classroom if they have enough nutrients and food to sustain the day. Donating books and supplies is also a nice way to help schools. Sometimes families struggle to prepare for the school year, so making sure kids have what they need for the school year is a great way to make a positive impact. Who knows, maybe these kids will be visiting your location when they’re older!
Team Up With Local Businesses
Another way to create positive buzz for your location is by partnering with other locations. This can create an image of unity and show the public that good causes mean more than competition. Sometimes it’s also helpful to share costs with other businesses so that the event can be beneficial to everyone. After all, saving money as a small business is always a plus. Generosity from everyone can create a ripple effect of positivity!
Donate Unused Food
Locations will often throw away unused food. Whether it be overstock or unneeded, unused food often goes to waste. A great way to make sure it goes to good use is to donate it. What better way to put unneeded food to good use than donating it to a local food pantry or a local charity? This can create good partnerships in the long run with organizations who provide food to others.
Fundraising
Creating a fundraiser is a great way to accumulate money for a good cause. If locals are already familiar with you, this is a good way to attract new customers and make a good impression. Having giveaways, contests, and raffles are great ways to get your customers involved. Even setting up signs raising awareness for a cause is a great way to attract attention among customers.