Have a Giving Tree

A giving tree is a more charitable version of the Christmas tree you might already have in your office.

Instead of merely serving as a festive decoration, a giving tree enables employees to choose a charity they’d like to donate to. To set up a giving tree in your office, attach tags in place of ornaments, each representing a charity or organization in need. Employees can select a tag from the tree and fill the stated need.

While you can choose to represent a variety of different charities, selecting one cause that all employees can get involved with can be a good way to bring the office together.

Whether you choose to collectively raise money for one cause or donate to a variety of charities, you can keep track of how much you’ve raised and announce it to the whole office at the end of the year, so people can have a moment to feel proud of their contribution.

Alternatively, you can always have your employees purchase physical items from a local charity’s wish list, and then place them under the tree as gifts. A group of colleagues might even enjoy dropping these items off together.

Making the Biggest Impact on #Giving Tuesday 2017

#Giving Tuesday is just a week away. How will you make an impact on others this year?

One of the most special times of the year is #Giving Tuesday. This is a day when people come together all over the world in an effort to help others through volunteerism, financial gifts, and telling their social communities about the causes they are passionate about. Let’s not forget that volunteerism and fundraising are important year-round but on #GivingTuesday the message of hope and community is accelerated on a national scale. In 2015, a total of 98 countries participated in #Giving Tuesday raising an estimated 177 million online dollars. It is truly amazing what people can do when they come together for the greater good.  #Giving Tuesday is always the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The date of this event in 2017 is November 28. How are you going to make the biggest impact on #Giving Tuesday 2017? Here are a few ways to get involved.

Give the Gift of Time

Sometimes the greatest gift that you can provide is your time. Nonprofit organizations all around the world are looking for volunteers to help them carry out their mission. Why not commit to volunteerism to play your part in #Giving Tuesday? The act of volunteerism has been shown to provide a volunteer with many health-related benefits including decreased stress, improved mood, and a sense of greater good. Becoming a volunteer and providing service is a great way to have an impact on yourself while having an impact on others too.

Donate to an Organization and Mission that You Believe In

Nonprofit organizations also rely heavily on financial contributions from donors and fundraising campaigns. Providing an organization with a financial gift or a pledge on #Giving Tuesday is an excellent way to help that organization achieve their goals. Finding a nonprofit that is aligned with your personal values and is working towards making an impact on an issue you are passionate about does not need to be challenging. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when choosing where to make a financial contribution on #GivingTuesday or any other time of the year:

·       Does the nonprofit provide data on the progress it has made towards its goals?  How does the organization measure success?

·       Do the nonprofit’s goals align with your personal goals and values?

·       Does the organization offer additional opportunities for you to become involved outside of financial commitments?

·       Is the organization going to make a positive impact on your local community?

·       Have you checked the legitimacy of the organizations you are considering?

·       Are you trusting your instincts and listening to your heart during the identification process?

Influence Others to Become Involved in Giving

One of the best ways that you can help out during #Giving Tuesday is by letting others know about your favorite nonprofit or cause based initiative. In 2015, #Giving Tuesday sparked 2.4 Million social media engagements. The action of letting others know about nonprofit initiatives is not challenging. All you need to do is like and share your favorite nonprofit’s campaign content. Most of us have access to communities that have not been touched by a specific nonprofits call-to-action. Help the organization you stand behind reach that audience and broadcast their mission to the world.

Make a Commitment to Donate Regularly

#Giving Tuesday is a great time of the year to plan your giving contributions for 2018. As mentioned previously in the post these contributions could be your time, financial resources, commitment to spreading the word or a combination of all of them. Use #Giving Tuesday as a motivator for making contributions year-round to the greater good.

Takeaways

#Giving Tuesday is quickly approaching and there are ways that we can all have an impact on the success of the initiative. There are plenty of options to provide your time, give a financial contribution, and share a nonprofits campaign with your direct community. Let’s make #Giving Tuesday 2017 one for the record books and touch as many lives as possible this year.

Thanks to Eric Burger

Family and Volunteering – Get Involved on November 18!

It's easy to feel disconnected, as parent’s juggle work, school, kids, and numerous activities. But some simple things can bring a family closer — playing a game, going for a hike, or cooking a meal together.

One of the most satisfying, fun, and productive ways to unite is volunteering for community service projects. Volunteerism also sets a good example for your kids and helps the Cedar Valley.

So why should your family lend a helping hand?

It feels good. The joy and pride that come from helping others are important reasons to volunteer. When you commit your time and effort to an organization or a cause you feel strongly about, the feeling of fulfillment can be endless.

It strengthens your community. Organizations and agencies that use volunteers are providing important services at no cost to those who need them. When the Cedar Valley is doing well as a whole, its citizens are better off, too.

It can strengthen your family. Volunteerism is a great way for families to have fun and feel closer. Many people say they don't have the time to volunteer. Try reconsidering some of your free time as a family. You could select just one or two projects a year and make them a family tradition.

What Kids Can Learn from Volunteering

If volunteering begins at an early age, it can become part of kids' lives — something they might just expect and want to do.

It can teach them:

• A sense of responsibility.
• That one person can make a difference.
• The benefit of sacrifice.
• Tolerance.
• Job skills. How to fill idle time wisely.

Take Action! Family Volunteer Day!

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley will celebrate the power of families on Saturday, November 18 from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at the Waterloo Center for the Arts.

Teach your children the importance of service and nurture the desire to give back to the community.

Families will have an opportunity to participate in 6 stations set up for families to make service projects for agencies in the community. Representatives from some community agencies will have displays featuring family-friendly volunteering opportunities.

Join us for Family Volunteer Day of Service!

For more information on volunteering contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at (319) 272-2087, information@vccv.org, or visit www.vccv.org.

Gratitude for Our Veterans

President Kennedy asked, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”. Our brave and selfless men and women in uniform who serve our country embody this great and noble thought with courage and strength that deserve our highest gratitude — not just on Veterans Day but each and every day of our lives.

We can never thank this elite group of Americans enough for their service to our great nation and to each and every American who enjoys the freedoms and liberties which define us as a person. It has been said that freedom is never free; how can we not be grateful and thankful to the men and women who pay the price of spending precious time away from their families, who endure the endless dangers of warfare?

It is also important to remember that for most of us these are men and women who we have never met or will ever know, and yet they fight for us to give us the rights and privileges that not everyone around the world can claim they have in their lives. And the irony of it all is that if these brave souls return alive, it isn’t as if they are asking anyone for anything in return! Their love for this country and fellow Americans transcends wanting such accolades; how can we not be eternally grateful for such unselfishness?

Each and every man and woman who serves is an inspiration of dedication and bravery which commands our unwavering respect, gratitude and complete appreciation. Let us also remember the proud patriots who did not return home. That dedication of a lifetime defines true patriotism. 

These brave souls have given not only their time, effort, and commitment, and — most importantly — their very lives for the protection and preservation of the ideals and values of this great country. 

When trying to put into words our gratitude for all that these brave souls encounter risk and face, we come up short. It is imperative that we acknowledge such service in protecting and defending our freedoms and our democratic values which define our way of life. America would not be considered the greatest country in the world if we did not have these great people defending it. 

Every veteran makes the ultimate commitment to the pinnacle of patriotism and courage.

Thank you, each and every one of you, for your years of service. The sacrifices you have made for our country, on and off the battlefield, all of which are immeasurable. America is forever blessed for the presence of our veterans, who believe liberty is always worth fighting for. Men and women who believe in duty, honor and country will always be an inspiration. Your service makes the world a better place, keeps our nation a strong beacon of hope in freedom and democracy. 

Thanks to all of you, who put on the uniform expecting nothing in return. The selfless act of serving our country deserves the highest level of respect and gratitude we have to offer. What is there to say other than that we are truly grateful! It is men and women like you that make all of us proud to be Americans.

Credit: The Huffington Post