Helping charities at work (tuck shop)

claire18

Hi everyone

I guess this isn't charity specific but it's charity related, so apologies if incorrect place.

At work we normally have a nominated charity who we raise funds for throughout the year. This year is a bit different given current economy so we're looking a bit differently at things - how we can help charities without having to give cash.

Ideas that we're going to try to do include clearing out our wardrobes to donate items to charity shops, giving up time to help with admin, marshalling at charity's walks/runs and maybe painting a room or digging a garden for hospice/youth centre etc.

One thing that we thought could raise a bit of money is to have a tuck shop at work. There are about 100 people in the office, we don't have any vending machines and the shops nearby seem to charge a fortune for chocolate so we thought we could give it a go for a month and see how it works with crisps, chocolate, sweets and fizzy drinks.

We wondered about making use of the bogof offers in supermarkets the only thing that puts us off is if the items are marked as multipack. We can easily go to Makro/Costco for things but some of these offers seem good and would help us maximise the funds we raise!

Does anyone have any 'insider' information on how to tell from outer packaging whether the individual chocolate bars, cans etc have 'multipack item not for resale' on them please??:huh:
Thanks :wave:

vikki_louise

Can't help on that question but wht about all sending emails or cards to sick kids on www.postpals.co.uk if you each send just one cheery email you will of made 100 sick kids day!

kazzah

yes Multi packs DO have " not for re-sale" printed on them........
perhaps you could GIVE them to your work colleagues for a "suggested" donation???
then you aren't really selling them....

Hermia

We have a sort of freecycle table in the staff room at work where anyone can put unwanted stuff (everything from the free DVDs that come with newspapers to nearly-new baby clothes and unwanted competition prizes). It's HUGELY popular. Could you do something similar, but have a donations tin on the table (chaining it to the table might be a good idea!).

NumboJumbo

You could try helping out worthwhile causes during your lunch breaks without actually leaving the office. Visit http://www.helpfromhome.org/ for lots of helpful suggestions.

The site is geared towards volunteering your time from the comfort of your own home, but can equally apply to the 'comfort' of where you work. About 90% of the actions listed on the website do not cost anything to do. Check out the 'Charity Volunteer' button - I think you'll be surprised by what you can actually do during your lunchbreak eg. play games to raise money for charity, use your pc to find cures for diseases, write or email to sick children (as per Vikki's post above) etc.

Hope that was helpful.