You don’t have to replace the year-end party to make it about something more. Keep the dinner and the time together, and add one part to the evening that does something for someone else.
There’s a good reason to try it. In a 2017 Deloitte survey, 70% of respondents said volunteering does more for morale than a company happy hour. A study in the Industrial Relations Journal points the same way: of the workplace wellbeing programs it compared, volunteering was the only kind that made a significant difference, as Visit.org reported.
Four ways to do it
Swap the gift exchange for a donation. Instead of a $25 gift each, the team puts the same amount toward a cause it picks together. It’s easy to set up, though people give from their phones and the evening itself doesn’t change much.
Collect items for a local shelter. Ask a shelter what they need in December and ask each guest to bring something. Someone will have to drop the boxes off after the party.
Raise money with something fun: a raffle, an auction for a day off, or a bake-off where votes are donations. You’ll need a host and a few prizes.
Or build kits during the party. Set up a table and spend part of the evening building teddy bears, comfort kits or cold-weather kits for people who need them. Everything comes in one box, and the finished kits go to a nonprofit partner.
Kits that work at a party
| Kit | Price per participant | What each person makes |
|---|---|---|
| Cold Weather Kits for Individuals Facing Housing Insecurity | $50 | Three cold-weather kits for people facing housing insecurity |
| Teddy Bears for Children | $65 | One bear, plus a profile card for the child who gets it |
| Educational Art Kits | $80 | Three art kits for children who face barriers to creative expression |
| Comfort Kits for Children and Families | $85 | Four kits that use creativity and play to help children in crisis, with a decorated note |
Adding a kit table
Order only for the guests who’ll take part. The minimum is 10 people, and some guests will just want to eat.
Order about four weeks ahead. Kits ship within three weeks of your order, and the dates below leave a few days for delivery.
| If the party is on | Order by |
|---|---|
| Thursday, Dec. 10 | Thursday, Nov. 12 |
| Tuesday, Dec. 15 | Tuesday, Nov. 17 |
| Friday, Dec. 18 | Friday, Nov. 20 |
Pick the moment. Building works well after people arrive and before dinner, or between dinner and dessert. Once dessert is done, some people start heading home.
Keep the building table away from the food so the materials stay clean. If your kit includes cards, put a few example lines on the table for anyone stuck on a blank card:
- “Happy holidays. Someone you haven’t met was thinking of you tonight.”
- “We hope this brings a little comfort this winter.”
- For a teddy bear: “Her name is Rosie, and she’s ready for a hug.”
Keep it short and let people join or skip. It should add to the party without taking it over.
At the end of the night, pack the finished kits in the same box and attach the prepaid label. Decide in advance who takes the box or schedules the pickup the next day. Once it ships back, Visit.org delivers the kits to a nonprofit partner.
For the invitation
This year’s holiday party includes something new. Between dinner and dessert, we’ll build teddy bears for children who are going through a hard time. Each bear goes to a nonprofit partner. Nothing to bring.
Cost
Kits cost $50 to $85 per participant, depending on the kit. U.S. shipping is free both ways, and sales tax may apply at checkout.
| Kit | 20 people | 30 people | 50 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Weather Kits ($50) | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,500 |
| Teddy Bears for Children ($65) | $1,300 | $1,950 | $3,250 |
| Comfort Kits for Children and Families ($85) | $1,700 | $2,550 | $4,250 |
A quick note for whoever handles the budget: this is a team activity purchase rather than a charitable donation. Your accountant can tell you how to record it.
Remote team members can join too. All kits ship to one address, so have the box sent to the office and mail their kits ahead of the party.
See all the kits and order by Nov. 17 for a mid-December party.
