Contributing & Benefiting (Part 1)

Contributing and Benefitting

Part 1

After moving to the Kootenay Region of BC (Canada) and opening our business here, we knew that while we may not always have the budget to donate or time to volunteer, there were many other ways we could contribute to this amazing community and beautiful valley that we now call home. We soon connected with the Therapeutic Action Program - which helps people with difficulties, and seniors, in a variety of ways. They host an annual silent auction fundraiser that we have been contributing drums, books, products, and gift certificates on a semi-annual basis. That positive experience keeps us involved with community events today.

When From One Small Garden - Over 300 Delicious Nutritious Recipes came out we connected with Creston Valley Food Action Coalition who used our cookbook as a fundraiser at their Farmers Market Info Booth that summer, and purchased a number of copies (at a 25% discount) for several of their classes (4-6 people per class and up to 8 people per class). This was all made possible by the Columbia Basin Trust organization's grants and a few other sponsors. Sadly COVID came soon came into the picture and disrupted what could have been a very positive venture with this group.

Later on that year we offered a few signed copies of the cookbook to a popular local thrift store. Now this mostly volunteer-run outlet raises funds for the community, local events and nonprofits, so we wanted to do something to thank them and their patrons. The staff ended up hosting a month long draw for the signed books, among other prizes and gift certificates that they added to the event. 

In 2022 we offered our cookbook up as a prize for contests or door prizes to a variety of community events - from the Spring Fair and Blossom Festival to the Fall Fair and the Santa Parade. 

And in 2023 we were able to find new and interesting ways to continue this activity... 

Frisky Whisky Cocktails & Kitchen restaurant held 2 events that we were able to get involved with in 2023. The first was a New Years Eve party where they were offering door prizes and hosted contests during the evening. The second was a silent auction and dinner fundraising event for the Kootenai Community Centre Society - which supports women and children with safe housing, supportive services, public education, childcare etc.  We were able to donate (author-signed) 2 cookbooks and 2 poetry books, with bookmarks inserted (as always) to these events. 

That spring we were able to connect with Nelson's (BC, Canada) Cultural Ambassador regarding the Haute Trash Fashion Show where we contributed the Trash Talk green living series to their event to use as a prize or to split the books up and use as 2 different prizes. We let them decide how to give them out. We were also able to participate in Creston Refugee Committee's silent auction fundraiser by donating a copy of our cookbook, From One Small Garden. 

That summer we gave our Trash Talk-It's Easy To be Green series to Creston Valley's 10th Annual Dash 4 Trash event for them to give a way as prizes to participants. And later that summer we were able to contribute a copy of our cookbook to the Agriculture Bursary Fundraiser event that was held in early September.

There was also the Creston BC Ducks Unlimited Canada fundraising dinner and silent auction event held in October that we were able to contribute our cookbook to.

Our incentive comes from a place of wanting to make a difference, to help them promote the event and contribute in any way we can. The bonus to our business comes in later through the exposure and the networking connections we made. There is also the fact that everyone that is involved in or attends the event will become aware that we exist.

Of course each event provides fodder for us to send emails, create blog and social networking posts and press releases at 3 points of each event: before (announcing), during (celebrating) and after (expressing gratitude and sharing the experience). We could also create press releases for each activity submitting them to local and regional online or print publications. We could make notes about it on our website, newsletter, bulletin, or other forms of communication. 

We know that these tasks are within our control and if we follow through with them they can be very valuable tools. 

The hidden bonus comes in when these volunteers, organizers, sponsors and advocates produce a continuous stream of social networking posts in local groups, on their social networking sites, send announcements to their contacts and post in their blogs or newsletters. Some of the organizations will be putting up flyers or submitting press releases to local or regional online or print publications. There is a very good chance that people attending the event will hear about you. When the event ends, the organizers often post notes of appreciation to sponsors and donors, and listing prize winners too.  The prize winners will be excitedly talking to friends and coworkers about winning their prize. Occasionally there will radio coverage of these events, but don't forget that we can reach out to the regional and community stations and publications ourselves.

This activity is a great tool for building name recognition and branding, creating the desired image, getting exposure, and opening numerous doors for future networking opportunities. The only thing it will cost is was a little bit of time, printing the communications (for taxes) and the cost of the donated item.

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Find the Brummet's Books @:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0845RLK1X

Find Them Online via:

https://taplink.cc/brummet

https://linktr.ee/LillianBrummet

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