Employee Engagement During Giving Season: How custom apparel can foster team bonding AND positive impact

As giving season approaches, many companies are looking for meaningful ways to engage their employees in volunteering and community service, and custom apparel is a fantastic way to support these efforts. But why would you want just plain old t-shirts and hoodies when you can create impactful and brandable gifts that your team will be proud to wear? At Peace by Piece, we can help you create custom — even themed — t-shirts, hoodies, athletic pants, totes, beanies, and more that are crafted by individuals from underserved communities, including those escaping sex trafficking, domestic abuse, homelessness, and those impacted by the justice system.

Keep reading to explore how these gifts can enhance your team volunteering experience while supporting vital social causes in the US and abroad…and get some ideas for how you can build up your team spirit by giving back this giving season!

The Power of Custom Apparel in Team Building

Customizable apparel can be more than just a gift — it can serve as a tool for creating a cohesive team identity. Here’s how gifting customized and purpose-packed items like t-shirts and hoodies can facilitate team bonding:

1. Shared Identity: Wearing matching or branded clothing fosters a sense of unity and belonging among team members. When employees don custom gear, they feel more connected to each other and, importantly, to the organization’s mission. You can even create themes or teams to spark some fun and competition at your next volunteer event! Knowing the creator’s of their gear are better off because of them will boost morale even further!
2. Conversation Starters: Custom items can spark conversations about the company’s values, the artisans who made the products, and the causes they support. This dialogue helps build relationships among team members, enhances camaraderie, and instills a sense of pride in your team, who will be excited to share the story behind their socially conscious SWAG with others.
3. Symbol of Commitment: Gifting socially conscious and sustainable apparel is a tangible way to demonstrate your company’s commitment to its values. It shows employees that they are part of a larger movement that values giving back to the community. Your team members will be proud to represent your organization with “not-just-another-t-shirt”…but a t-shirt packed with purpose.

Volunteering Together: Ideas for Team Engagement

Incorporating custom gifts into volunteer activities not only enhances team camaraderie but also helps ensure a memorable experience. Here are some ideas for team volunteering that align with gifting custom, branded apparel:

1. Community Clean-Up Events: Equip your team with branded t-shirts or hoodies for a community clean-up day. This promotes teamwork while beautifying local parks or neighborhoods.

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2. Work at a soup kitchen: Gift custom aprons to your team members to wear while they serve up both food and kindness to those in need.

3. Donation Drives: Host a donation drive where employees can collect items for underserved communities. Provide custom duffels for participants to carry their donations, reinforcing a shared purpose.

4. Charity Runs or Walks: Participate in charity runs or walks as a team, wearing branded athletic wear. This fosters team spirit and promotes health, all while supporting a good cause.

5. Holiday Gift Wrapping Parties: Host a gift-wrapping event for gifts to give to children at the local hospital. Team members can enjoy snacks, share stories, and bond while wrapping gifts, donning their custom beanies to hand-deliver them to the kids and “wear” your company’s values.

The Impact of Custom Gifts on Artisans and Communities

By choosing to gift apparel made by individuals in underserved communities, companies can make a significant impact. Here’s how:

• Economic Empowerment: Every purchase helps provide fair wages and job opportunities for artisans, allowing them to support not just their families, but their communities.
• Skill Development: Artisans gain valuable skills through their work, fostering personal and professional growth that can lead to further opportunities. For many, these skills help build confidence and belief in the possibility of a brighter future.
• Social Change: By gifting apparel that comes with a story your team members will be excited to share, you help raise awareness of the challenges faced by so many underserved communities, contributing to broader social change and reinforcing the fact that we can all play a role in helping those who deserve a second chance.

So what does this all mean?

As giving season kicks off, consider how customizable gifts like t-shirts, hoodies, and more can serve as powerful tools for team bonding and positive impact. By engaging employees in meaningful volunteer activities while providing them with custom apparel, companies can create lasting memories and contribute to the well-being of communities in need.?You can cultivate a culture of giving that resonates far beyond the workplace.