By: Kelly Spors
Getting your workers to join forces to support a local charity is a great way to encourage engagement and teamwork, but it’s all too easy to just support the same causes year after year. Want something new and exciting for your employees to support? Try a company book drive.
A company book drive is a win-win for both the donors and the beneficiaries. Your employees have the chance to get rid of the books cluttering their homes and offices. Their donations can improve the lives of those on the receiving end, encouraging literacy among children and adults of all ages.
Office Depot this year launched its own company book drive, collecting 10,000 books for local students to help prevent the “summer slide.”
An ideal book drive time frame is one month. There are several other notable literacy-based holidays one could organize a book drive around. They include:
National Book Lovers Day on Aug. 9.
World Book Day on April 23.
National Read a Book Day 2018 on Sept. 6.
Here are some more tips and ideas about how to initiate an effective company book drive:
1. Selecting the organization
You’ll need to select a specific organization that accepts book donations. There are a host of organizations around the U.S. Books4Cause, for example, has used book donations to create libraries in Africa, and bolster educational programs there. Reading Partners, which provides students with individualized reading support, encourages businesses and organizations to collect kindergarten-to-fourth-grade-level books. If you’re business is small enough, the local school district or library might work, too. No matter what you choose, do some research to make sure the books are actually going to a good cause. Find out beforehand whether the organization requires you to make extra monetary donations or pay for shipping of the books. Also note any restrictions the organization may have on what types of books can be donated.
2. Logistics
Make sure that you have accessible bin locations for donated books, and that employees can easily reach each book donation box. The bins should also be sturdy enough to hold a large number of books. You’ll also need to figure out where to store the book donations. Who is going to handle sorting, boxing and shipping the books?
3. Internal marketing
You’ll want to engage and excite associates about the book drive. Perhaps create some fun incentives or prizes for workers who are especially active in the book drive. Keep everyone informed about how many books have been donated, and plan an office party to celebrate the completion of the book drive.
About the Author
Kelly Spors is a freelance writer and editor based in Minneapolis. She previously worked as a staff reporter for The Wall Street Journal, covering small business and entrepreneurship.
All content provided herein is for educational purposes only. It is provided “as is,” and neither the author nor Office Depot warrants the accuracy of the information provided, nor do they assume any responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.
Over 10,000 Books Donated by Office Depot
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