How to plan a Drop In & Decorate event at work, part I

PLANNING AN EVENT, FINDING A RECIPIENT AGENCY

Our daughter-in-law Melanie called last week with my favorite kind of question:

How can I host a Drop In & Decorate event at my work place?

The planning of the holiday party at the Boston insurance company falls to her, and this year, she wants to do something new. A super-talented cookie decorator, Melanie has come to my own Drop In party ever since her family moved to Massachusetts.

The key to success, I told her, is to get as many people as possible to participate in the planning as well as the cookie decorating.

First, find a recipient agency. Does your company already support the local food bank, shelter for homeless families or victims of domestic violence, senior lunch program? If so, ask them if they'd like to have a donation of cookies.

Although some agencies cannot accept donations of homemade food, most will, and often a personal contact or telephone conversation is all that's needed to make the connection. Remember, too, that a picture is worth a thousand words, and there are plenty of pictures here.

Melanie plans to invite the company's Community Involvement Committee to select a local charity, food pantry or shelter to receive the donation of cookies.

When you connect with a recipient agency, ask them how many cookies they'll need.

Does your company have a budget for events or holiday parties? If so, will it cover supplies (baking ingredients, cookie cutters, squeeze bottles for icing, wrapping materials, etc.), or will you need to seek donations?

Download a copy of our Free How-To Guide (over there in the left-hand column), and order supplies that you can't purchase locally at a supermarket, baking supply or craft store.

Pick a date for your event. Publicize it by email or in your company's newsletter. Ask for volunteers to bake cookies and help with set-up, wrapping, and delivery.

Coming next...
Part II: Baking and decorating your cookies
Part III: Wrapping, delivery, publicity

Comments

[Sandie]

This post just gave me a great idea!

Our oldest belongs to a wonderful sorority, and philanthropic projects are a large part of what they do. I think I'll send her the link to this page, because I know the girls would LOVE to decorate cookies & help out a charity or organization they already, or would like to, sponsor.

[Jenna Z.]

Loved this post, can't wait for the next two! We're having our Fall Drop in and Decorate the week of Halloween at work. I am planning a post in November about hosting a holiday cookie exchange and will definitely link to these as an alternative for those wanting to eat less and give more!

And while I'm commenting I have a question. How would I go about getting financial assistance (if that is a possibility yet) for our events? I don't have a problem getting cookies and frosting donated, we usually each bring either one dozen cookies or frosting/spinkles, but I have a hard time paying for all the packaging supplies like big trays/plates and large enough bags to wrap the trays in. I have gotten lucky a couple of times and gotten used plastic trays from various lunch events at work but would like to purchase a supply of "cookie tray" bags to use. Or do you know of a good discount supplier online to find these types of bags, preferably seasonal-themes?