Expanding Good Eats’ Charitable Initiatives: Your Creative Ideas Needed

QUESTION

Background  

Good Eats is a chain of organic food stores with locations in Ottawa. The stores are big and well-lit, like their more traditional grocery store counterparts. They are also teeming with various attractively displayed foods and related products.

However, Good Eats is different from the average supermarket. Its products include everything from granola sold in bulk to environmentally sensitive household products. The meats sold come from animals that were never fed antibiotics, and the cheese is from cows said to be raised on small farms and treated humanely.

Along with selling these products to upscale shoppers, the company has given food to homeless shelters. Good Eats donates non-perishable food to three soup kitchens downtown every third weekend. Company executives believe they are in a unique position to help others.

You work for the chief operating officer of Good Eats. You have been asked to find ways to expand the donation pro- gram by involving the company’s eight branches, most of which are in the suburbs. Ideally, the company could increase the number of people it helps and get more of its employees involved.

You do not have much extra money for the program, so the emphasis must be on using resources already available to the stores. One idea is to use trucks from suburban branches to make the program mobile. Another idea is to join forces with a retail chain to give food and clothing to individuals. The key is to be original and not exclude any idea, no matter how absurd it might seem. The only stipulation is to keep ideas politically neutral. Good Eats executives do not want to be seen as supporting any party or candidate. They want to be good corporate citizens.

Your Task 

• Send a persuasive memo to all managers at Good Eats requesting ideas to expand the program. Invite employees to contribute ideas for this or any other charitable project for the company.
• Employ both logical and emotional appeals.
• Use the AIDA method.

ANSWER

 Expanding Good Eats’ Charitable Initiatives: Your Creative Ideas Needed

Dear Good Eats Managers,

I hope this message finds you well. As we continue our journey towards making a positive impact on our community, I am excited to share with you a new opportunity to expand our charitable efforts. Good Eats has always stood for quality, sustainability, and compassion, and now we have a chance to amplify our reach and help even more individuals in need.

Attention – Acknowledging Our Potential
We are already making a significant difference by providing organic, humane, and environmentally responsible products to our valued customers. Our commitment to donating non-perishable food to homeless shelters speaks volumes about our core values and our determination to create a better world. But we believe we can do more, and this is where your input becomes invaluable.

Interest – Our Vision for Expansion
Imagine the impact we could have by involving all eight of our branches, especially those located in the suburbs. The idea of using our suburban trucks to make our donation program mobile is just one exciting prospect. Picture our trucks rolling into various neighborhoods, delivering hope and sustenance to those who need it most. But that’s just the beginning.

Desire – Collaborative Innovation

We’re open to any creative idea, no matter how unconventional it may seem. Our objective is to explore new avenues that leverage our existing resources and engage our dedicated employees. One intriguing proposal is to collaborate with a retail chain to provide not just food, but also clothing to individuals. Imagine the impact of combining our commitment to organic products with the opportunity to clothe those less fortunate. This collaborative effort could make a substantial difference in the lives of many.

Action – Your Role in Making a Difference

I invite each and every one of you to contribute your thoughts and ideas to this initiative. Your unique perspectives, experiences, and innovative thinking could shape the future of our charitable endeavors. We want you to be part of this inspiring journey, and your active participation will be crucial in bringing these ideas to life.

By expanding our charitable program, we are not only increasing the number of people we help but also creating an opportunity for our employees to be directly involved in making a positive impact. This aligns perfectly with our values of being good corporate citizens, without any political affiliations.

In conclusion, let’s join hands to make a greater difference together. Your ideas, your passion, and your commitment can bring our vision to fruition. Please share your proposals by [submission deadline], and together, we can take Good Eats’ charitable initiatives to new heights.

Thank you for your dedication and for being an integral part of our mission to create a better and more compassionate world.

Warm regards,

[Your Name]
Chief Operating Officer
Good Eats