Directions’ Back-To-School Luncheon Encourages Employees to Donate School Supplies

Even if you don’t have kids in school, it’s hard to ignore that a new school year is beginning. Ads for school supplies are everywhere because kids typically have a list of 20 or more items their schools require them to have for the year.

Directions recently held a back-to-school event to help students in our local community who are in need of supplies, and to bring agency employees together for a little fun.

The event started with a school bus ride down memory lane. “Lunch ladies” with hairnets and white aprons served employees Sloppy Joes, tater tots, corn, mixed fruit and ice cream cups (with little wooden spoons) on sectioned lunch trays. Each “student” got a carton of milk — white or chocolate — with a bendy straw. The lunch-table chatter included lots of “when I was in school” stories and renditions of Adam Sandler’s “Lunchlady Land” song.

Employees were given a list of school supplies required by area schools and were encouraged to bring in 10 school supply items. In return, they received a chance to win a pair of tickets to a Green Bay Packers pre-season game.

The event brought in a collection of school supplies worth approximately $350, which the company donated to the Neenah Joint School District, to be divided among the area schools. The organization was pleasantly surprised by the donation.

As an agency, we like to exercise our creativity in everything we do and have fun while we work. Events like this have helped us bond with our co-workers, enjoy coming to work at Directions, and share our prosperity with others in the community.

Having worked at Directions for most of my career, I wonder, “do other companies encourage similar internal events?” We’d love to hear what kind of things your company does to encourage participation in community giving, and the ways you make work fun for your employees and co-workers.

Sarah, Public Relations Coordinator