April Aragon Cares: Giving Back Virtually

by Kalyn Stockman

The recent pandemic caused us to reconsider our Aragon Cares plan for the next few months. Some of the charity events we planned to participate in involved face-to-face contact with others, as many events do. But luckily, while many things were put on hold due to COVID-19, giving back does not have to be one of them… we just had to get creative. This blog will overview our April Aragon Cares event and offer advice for how to give back virtually.

Our Aragon Cares charity of choice this month was HomeFirst Homeless Shelter in San Jose. This organization has an Amazon wishlist, making it easy for us to donate. The wish list included basic care items such as toothpaste, soap, deodorant, towels, and blankets. To make our donation personal, each Aragon team member picked out an item of their choice to donate from the list. 

Although it may sound more rewarding to work face-to-face with those in need, such as serving a meal, we are thankful that there are still some great ways to donate virtually throughout the pandemic. In fact, COVID-19 has brought on a whole new set of needs for people in our communities. 

We thought we’d highlight a few ways you and your company can contribute to charities virtually.

1. Online Wishlists 

Many charities have wish lists that you can access online. The nice thing about this is that you simply purchase the item and it will be sent directly to the organization in need. Amazon Smile Charity lists provide endless options for your company to support a charity by providing items they need. 

2. Virtual Runs

We’ve found Virtual Run Events to be a great way to give back during the pandemic. Each month, it hosts a virtual run, each time supporting a different charity or cause. All you have to do is register for a race, paying a small registration fee (part of this gets donated to the charity), and then participate in the race virtually–your local park, backyard, or even your treadmill! Right now, you can even sign up for COVID-19 Relief Races!

3. Monetary Donations

The different charities to donate money to are endless, and many are in great need at this time. Pick a cause that your company wants to support, and then research some organizations within that category. Whether you want to donate to medical organizations, schools, animal shelters, or anything else, donating money is a very powerful act that can go a long way.

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If possible, we recommend picking a different organization each month to focus your charity efforts towards. Any kind of donation helps, no matter how big or small. Along with helping those in need, participating in acts of charity with your company can raise your company morale!