Make A Difference In Your Community
How can you make a difference?
The time and resources that companies offer are critical to meeting the pressing needs of our community. However, corporate volunteering isn't just a one-way street. Studies have shown that volunteering has measurable value beyond the satisfaction of making a difference.
Check out a few of the business benefits that corporate service can provide below!
The Power of Corporate Volunteering
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Do More to Support
79% of employees wish their companies would do more to support a social or environmental cause or issue. (1)
Days of Service
Three out of four employees want to get involved with their company’s cause-related efforts through company-sponsored days of service. (1)
Community Reputation
The second most important driver of employee engagement in the United States is an organization’s reputation in the community. (2)
Employee Engagement
Companies with the highest levels of employee engagement see more than a 19% average annual increase in their operating income. (3)
(1) Cause Evolution Study, Cone. 2019; (2) Global Workforce, Towers Perrin, 2019, (3) Towers Watson, 2019
Ready to Get Started?
Let the Chamber's Community Committee set up a volunteer event for your employees!
Contact us: Daisy@SanMarcosChamber.com
Benefits of Corporate Volunteering
Corporate volunteering offers valuable benefits for both employees and companies. It promotes leadership and skill development by challenging individuals to address community issues, enhancing adaptability and problem-solving. Surveys indicate that over 80% of professionals credit volunteering for honing their leadership skills, with three in four endorsing it for professional growth. Additionally, volunteering strengthens teamwork, as evidenced by 97% of managers confirming improved internal collaboration, and 78% of volunteers noting enhanced communication skills. Beyond financial incentives, volunteering boosts employee loyalty and job satisfaction, with studies showing increased pride in company values (48%) and loyalty (66%), leading to better performance and lower turnover. For young professionals, corporate volunteer programs are a significant consideration during job evaluation, reflecting a preference for community service aligned with skills and a willingness to trade reduced roles or wages for meaningful societal contribution.
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Working together to tackle community issues in new and unique settings tests employees’ adaptability and problem solving abilities. According to surveys, more than 80% of professionals said they developed leadership skills as a result of their volunteer experience, and three in four think companies should use volunteering as a professional development tool.
Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Survey, Deloitte LLP, 2017; Power Skills: How Volunteerism Shapes Professional Success, Women’s Way, 2019
Volunteering promotes trust and camaraderie by building a sense of community among employees as they work toward a common goal. Among corporate volunteer managers, 97% report that service builds teamwork internally. And volunteers think so too: 78% of say engaging in service improved their communications skills.
The Corporate Volunteer Program as a Strategic Resource: The Link Grows Stronger, Points of Light Foundation/Allstate Foundation, 2018; Power Skills: How Voluntee
Beyond financial compensation, employees are motivated by intrinsic factors such as self-esteem and recognition. Studies show that employees involved in company cause programs are 48% more likely to be proud of their company’s values, and 66% more likely to feel a strong sense of loyalty. This, in turn, can lead to improved job performance and lower turnover.
Cause Evolution Study, Cone, 2010; Measuring the Value of Corporate Philanthropy: Social Impact, Business Benefits, and Investor Returns, Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, 2020
Today’s top young talent considers corporate volunteer programs a significant priority when evaluating potential jobs. Nearly two-thirds of young professionals say they would prefer to work for a company that provides opportunities to serve the community with their skills, and more than half said they would consider a lesser role or lower wage if they were certain they could contribute more to society.
Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Survey, Deloitte LLP, 2017; Kelly Global Workforce Index, Kelly Services, 2019
A good reputation is increasingly linked to bottom line benefits such as improved sales and employee productivity. One survey identified corporate citizenship as one of the top drivers of reputation, and corporate service can build brand awareness, affinity, trust, and loyalty among customers. In fact, 85% of consumers have a more positive image of a product or company when it supports a cause they care about.
Cause Evolution Study, Cone, 2020; State of Corporate Citizenship in the U.S., Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, 2018
Companies are essential to creating meaningful change because they have resources governments and nonprofits do not. Your company plays a critical role in building community, which benefits everyone—including you. Stronger communities result in more robust markets and a deeper pool of workforce talent. Furthermore, 79% of Americans prioritized companies that supported local causes when deciding who they want to see doing business in their communities.
Cause Evolution Study, Cone, 2020
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
- Sack Lunch Building - Interfaith Community Services hands out 400+ sack lunches daily to anyone that comes in and says that they are hungry. No questions asked, no documents or identification needed. All of our sack lunches are 100% donated and can either be made at home or onsite. We accept sack lunch delivery at 550 W. Washington Ave, Escondido, Ca 92025- Monday through Friday from 8am-4pm
- Here is what should be included in a sack lunch-
- One PB&J or meat & cheese sandwich in a sealable bag.
- Meat and cheese sandwiches should have no condiments. Condiments can be included as packets optionally.
- 2-3 snacks or your choice: granola bars, chips, apple, fruit snacks, fruit cups, etc.
- A small water bottle or juice box.
- A small brown paper bag/gallon-sized bag to contain lunch items.
- Follow hygiene guidelines: wash hands, wear gloves and hairnets/hats to avoid contamination.
- One PB&J or meat & cheese sandwich in a sealable bag.
- Here is what should be included in a sack lunch-
- Afternoon Pantry Help- Do you like to organize and make things look tidy? We are always looking for help in our pantry for the afternoons! You would be putting away donations that come in and organizing the shelves. You would rotate our non-perishables by close to expiration dates and thoroughly clean the pantry. This can be a 2-person volunteer opportunity.
- Times available to help are 1pm-4pm, Monday through Friday- available days vary.
- This could also be a great parent/child volunteer experience.
- Hygiene Kit Building- Interfaith Community Services hands out hygiene kits to those in need during our basic need hours, new permanent or transitional move ins. Our Homeless Outreach Team also hands them out to those who can't come to our site or are not ready to yet. Hygiene Kits are one of the most highly requested items that we unfortunately fall short on. We accept Hygiene Kit Delivery at 550 W. Washington Ave, Escondido, Ca 92025.
- Here is what should be included in a Hygiene Kit-
- Travel size toothbrush and toothpaste
- Travel size shampoo/conditioner
- Razor (optional shaving cream)
- Bar soap or travel size shower gel
- Travel or full sized deodorant
- Personal wet wipes- optional
- All items can be bagged in a gallon sized Ziplock bag, drawstring backpacks, etc.
- Here is what should be included in a Hygiene Kit-
- Garden Boxes Maintenance for Aster Apartments- Help cleanup, maintain and plant new herbs/flowers in garden boxes at one of our residence sites. *Possible volunteer opportunity for building new garden boxes*
- Make it a Home Basket- Create a basket for our Make it a Home Program (families moving into empty apartments, we try to furnish as much as possible through donations). This will help families or individuals with financial relief from buying the most needed things for their new home. This is an at home project you and your family/friends can do together. Drop off at 550 W. Washington Ave, Escondido, Ca 92025. Monday through Friday 7:30am-4pm.
- Bath Kit- Basket of choice (usually laundry basket or bucket) with bathroom cleaning supplies, towels, dish soap, toothbrush holder, soap dispenser or whatever else you would like to include.
- Kitchen Kit- Basket of chouse (usually laundry basket) with laundry soap, fabric softener, dryer sheets or whatever else you'd like to include.
- Bedding Kit- Basket of Choice (usually a laundry basket) with new sheet set (pillow case, fitted sheet and sheet) new pillow and new blanket. *Twin and Full sizes ONLY*
Interfaith Donation Drives- We always welcome schools, communities, church groups, families or anyone that would like to help host a donation drive for Interfaith! You choose what your drive will receive. Drop off of items to 550 W. Washington Ave. Escondido, CA 92025. Monday through Friday, 7:30am-4pm.
Interfaith donation drive ideas-
- New blankets, new pillows and new sheets- Our program residents are always in need of these items.
- Hygiene items- Travel size or full-size items. Feminine hygiene items are a huge need!
- Non-perishables food items- Pasta, cereal, oatmeal, canned foods, etc.
- Jackets (new or gently used), new undergarments for men and women.
Interfaith Community Services' Recurring Volunteer Opportunities!
These opportunities are available year-round & are a great starting point to get involved in volunteering. Whether you'd like volunteer alone or with friends, these opportunities are a great way to get involved!
For more information on these volunteer opportunities with Interfaith Community Services:
getinvolved@interfaithservices.org
Mary C. 760-215-9223
Maria E. 760-546-8781