Giving Back in a Virtual World
by Rachael Grossman
While the path to returning to “normal” ways of working might remain on pause for some time, that does not mean we can’t resume giving back to our communities. The pandemic has taught us that there is always a way to get things done, we just need to be creative. As a result, our CSR Squad has compiled several ways that you can give back — without leaving your home!
· Donate Household Items — find items around your house to donate to organizations like Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc. Many organizations will offer to pick up boxes from your home.
o Fun Fact: Task Rabbit has launched an initative called “Task Rabbit for Good,” where you can request a Tasker to bring donations to an organization of your choosing. A portion of the service fee is also given to local non-profits.
· Charity Miles — when signing up for an account, every mile you move will help to earn money for your charity. Make it competitive and join in with colleagues, friends, or family.
· Letter Writing — create cards for your local first responders, nursing homes, elderly care centers, or any place that would benefit for some extra love during this difficult time
· Career Village — give students career advice and answer questions through an online platform to help guide their future careers.
· Catchafire — Catchafire strengthens the social good sector by matching professionals who want to donate their time with nonprofits who need their skills.
Additionally, for any time spent volunteering, record your hours on IBM.org! To do so, follow these simple steps:
1. Log into IBM.org
2. Select IBM Volunteering & Giving Portal
3. Select Record Hours
4. As you earn and log your hours, after your first ten hours, you can earn money to redeem at a charity of your choice. To do so, select Community at the top of the page and select My Volunteer Grants
5. Note: To receive a grant, an organization must be registered and affirmed on the platform. Many organizations are already approved, but if your desired grant recipient is not, you can request to register and affirm by using these links:
More information regarding IBM’s Grant Program can be found here.
No matter what you’re doing, whether it’s five minutes or five hours, you can make an impact. If you have any questions on more ways to get involved, feel free to contact your respective CSR Squad Lead. We’re here to help!
