Make a difference day: how is your company getting involved?
On the 27th October, your company will have the opportunity to make a difference in the world. How will your company get involved on Make a Difference Day?
Every day we’re presented with opportunities to make a difference. Whether that’s in the workplace, at home, or in the world in general. Most of the time, we let those opportunities pass us by, for many reasons.
However, on the 27th October, you’ll have the opportunity to make a conscious effort in making a difference. Make a Difference Day ensures that we take those opportunities and do something with them. How will your company get involved?
What is make a difference day?
We all have the ability to make a difference. If individual efforts contribute to the larger scheme of improvement, then collective efforts can make a real impact. Make a Difference Day is an unofficial, an unofficial event that focuses on volunteering and community service. It’s celebrated on the fourth Saturday of October, which means that this year, it falls on the 27th October.
The event has been celebrated every year since 1992 and it originated in the United States. The event has since spread elsewhere throughout the world. Every year, millions of people volunteer as individuals or as part of a collective to help out in their local community in some way.
The idea for Make a Difference Day came about when the newspaper USA Weekend suggested that since 1992 was a leap year, people should take advantage of the extra day to do some good in the world.
Since its inception, the yearly event has helped encourage thousands of people to contribute to making the world a better place through a range of activities from helping out in daycare centres to providing relief to countries affected by natural disasters.
Why should we get involved?
Getting involved in Make a Difference Day gives companies the opportunity to collectively give something back. People volunteer for a number of different reasons, but at the heart of it, it provides us with a challenge and it rewards us with feelings of connection and well-being.
Choosing to become involved in the day as a company can make a real impact to the cause you decide to support. It can help provide support to those in need, make a positive impact on the environment, improve self-confidence and teach you new skills.
How will you be celebrating?
There are many ways to celebrate Make a Difference Day. The first decision to make is whether you will make a difference locally, or for a wider cause. The way that your company celebrates the event is only limited to your imagination and the amount of time and effort that you’re willing to put in. Some ideas to consider could include:
- Volunteering at your local youth centre
- Helping out at a local food bank
- Spending time at a care home
- Organising town clean-ups
- Collecting money for charity
- Giving blood
Whatever you decide to do, remember that every effort counts. You don’t need to make a huge gesture to make a difference. You can help support the day by making sure that your company does what it can to raise awareness of your cause and the event in general.
You can share your experience on social media, on your company blog, or through press releases to the wider industry. Even if you only celebrate the day as an individual, a small gesture like tidying the staff canteen can have a positive impact on the working lives of those around you.
Where to keep up to date with the event…
To find out what other companies have planned for the day, keep up to date on social media using the hashtag #makeadifferenceday. Make a Difference Day is the perfect opportunity for companies to give something back to the community. By choosing to help out in a way that has particular significance for your business, you’ll feel a great sense of reward and achievement.