At a Business After Five event hosted by the Neepawa and District Chamber of Commerce, Amanda Naughton-Gale, president of Kin Canada and representative of the local Kin Club, addresses local Chamber members about volunteerism. It’s an attempt to kill two birds with one stone in a sense - a business-sponsored volunteer activity would address a need for community volunteers and also give the business a great deal of positive public relations and employee engagement.

Statistics Canada reports a major drop in volunteerism across the country, and Naughton-Gale cites the community’s current lack of a soccer league as indication of the need for local volunteers and the consequences of not stepping up. A business-led volunteer initiative could help fill that gap, and help a business connect with employees on the issues and activities that are important to them outside of the workplace. A business-sponsored volunteer initiative will often offer incentives to employees to volunteer in the community, though different models exist including outright sponsoring staff hours to work at volunteer activities.

Service clubs in particular, says Naughton-Gale, offer a unique way to be involved in the community and get leadership training, networking opportunities, experience in event planning, and other personal and professional development that benefits people in other areas of their lives. As well, businesses have a long history of being involved with service organizations, often as members or sponsors.

Naughton-Gale quotes Winston Churchill to drive her point home. “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”