Giving back to the community is one of the most important things we as people can do. It is the community that supports us, whether it is your place of worship, your neighborhood, your workplace or your local shopping center. It is these collections of people, or communities, that nurture our souls, offer friendship, inspire us to reach our goals and even feed and clothe us.
No one of us can achieve our personal greatness without some kind of support group. Nor can businesses flourish without communities such as operations and sales teams to ensure the business is running smoothly or the important community of consumers that these businesses serve.
So taking care of these communities should be a top priority. People of all ages who feel they belong to a community whether it is at work or at home tend to lead happier and healthier lives. Businesses that sponsor company functions, even as small as the monthly birthday celebration cupcakes, are investing in the well-being of their corporate community, which pays back by gaining happy, productive and loyal employees.
The same is true for investing in a community of consumers. Giving back to the local community encourages consumers to be loyal to a business. Participating in local charity drives or volunteering opportunities leads to a personal connection between business and consumer. Small businesses are more able to accomplish this because they are more connected with their local clientele.
According to The Crucial Role Small Businesses Play in Their Communities by Kelly Spors, “Local businesses are known to have a “multiplier effect” on their communities…Research shows that vibrant local business communities lead to more charitable giving in a community, more walkable neighborhoods with unique character and less pollution. “
Amicus Solar Cooperative member-owners are small businesses that are actively involved with their communities. One aspect of being a solar installation company is that you need to educate your consumers about solar. It is a large-scale purchase and needs to be an informed decision. Amicus Solar Cooperative member-owners spend many hours at workshops, fairs and festivals educating people about their options to go solar.
Our member-owners invest in their communities in other ways as well. Many of them support local charities both through fundraisers and individual volunteering. A sample of the causes our member-owners have supported are:
- Boys and Girls Club
- Women’s Shelters
- Juvenile Diabetes Research
- Epilepsy Foundation
- Earth Day Events
- Education Foundations
- Affordable Housing Projects
- GRID Alternatives
- Habitat for Humanity
- Homeless Shelters
- Food Banks
In addition, almost half our member-owners have taken community involvement a step further by becoming a B-Corp whose very definition is a “company that uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.” These companies believe in doing business for more than just profit; their missions are for the benefit of everyone.
Benefit to everyone and to the environment is the nature of renewable energy. And those that work in the industry are passionate about making a difference, both in saving the world and their local communities. The member-owners of Amicus Solar Cooperative take this objective to heart.