Appetite for Change: Your 12 Month Planner for Community Support
As a cafe or restaurant owner, you have a unique position in your area and are usually recognised as more than just another business. Use this community support calendar to plan at least one event each quarter. This is a great way to strengthen your connection with local people, boost staff engagement, attract socially conscious customers, and set your business apart from competitors.
This doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive – simple gestures like themed menu items, donation drives, or awareness campaigns can make an impact, and your suppliers are often keen to help. Here’s our starter list of recommended causes and events, and you’re sure to be contacted by local organisations with their own fundraising and support requests. To handle these in a proactive and affordable way, use the tips in our related article How to Make Restaurant Community Sponsorship Work for Everyone.
January
– New Year’s Day (1st) – Promote healthy food and lifestyle resolutions – share quotes and experiences from some of your team. – B1G1 (Business for Good) initiatives – global giving projects with a program of ‘impacts’ to support activities locally or in a variety of countries. A great program supported by Foodie Coaches – see the video at the bottom of this page.
February
– World Cancer Day (4th) – Fundraise for cancer research. – Valentine’s Day (14th) – How can you extend its meaning beyond red roses and sentimentality? – Random Acts of Kindness Day (17th) – Encourage community kindness, what could your team organise?
March
– International Women’s Day (8th) celebrates our mothers, sisters, relatives, and friends – in the workplace, in families, and facing adversity. – Harmony Week (21st-27th) – Celebrate cultural diversity in Australia. – Clean Up Australia Day (21st) – Support community litter reduction campaigns. – World Water Day (22nd) – Highlight the importance of sustainable water supplies – share how you’ve reduced water use: a wide variety of ideas here. – Neighbour Day (Last Sunday in March) – Promote community connections by hosting a neighbourhood meet-and-greet with free coffee or discounted meals.
April
– Earth Day (22nd) – Support environmental protection – a wide variety of ideas here. – Anzac Day (25th) – Honouring veterans and current service members. – Grateful Day – it can be at any time; share an image on social media and your gratefulness for a terrific team, nice customers, beautiful weather or new family… Use the #grateful hashtag.
May
– Mother’s Day (2nd Sunday) – Celebrate the mothers who raised us and those facing challenges – a wide variety of ideas here. – International Nurses Day (12th) – Honour nurses and health care workers on Florence Nightingale’s birthday. – World No-Tobacco Day (31st) – Support your staff to quit smoking – hospitality workers smoke at twice the rate of the general population!
June
– World Environment Day (5th) – Raise awareness for environmental protection – a wide variety of ideas here. – Refugee Week (20th-26th) – Supporting refugee communities, so often the people who take on the vital support jobs in hospitality. – Pride Month – Support LGBTQ+ community events and celebrations – National Reconciliation Week (27th May – 3rd June) – Learn about shared histories and cultures
July
– Dry July – Support alcohol-free month for cancer support fundraising – Plastic Free July – Promote reducing single-use plastics – Local Heroes Day (Flexible Date): Celebrate community volunteers, emergency services, and local people who give their time for others.
August
– Aged Care Employee Day (7th) – Honour aged care workers, looking after the people who look after our parents and grandparents. – International Youth Day (12th) – Support local youth programs – CafeSmart – support this great organisation helping the homeless, a special fundraising event is held each August.
– World Teachers’ Day (5th) – Appreciate the educators who support and educate our kids and our employees. – National Coming Out Day (11th) – Supporting LGBT+ people to accept themselves and walk with pride. – World Food Day (16th) – Addressing food insecurity, can you highlight a local foodbank and give them some extra support? – International Chefs Day (20th) – Celebrate cooking staff and traditions. – Grandparents Day (Last Sunday) – Honouring the older generations. – Gambling Harm Awareness Week (19th-25th) – Raise awareness of gambling-related issues, a big issue for some of our employees.
November
– Movember – Raising awareness for men’s health issues. – National Recycling Week (2nd week) – Promote recycling initiatives – share about the activities you do. Recycling is an essential part of every business’s cost control. – Giving Tuesday (Tuesday after U.S. Thanksgiving) – Encourage charitable giving with a favourite non-profit organisation. – Grateful Day – it can be at any time; share an image on social media and your gratefulness for a terrific team, nice customers, beautiful weather or new family… Use the #grateful hashtag.
December
– World AIDS Day (1st) – Raise awareness and remember those affected. – International Volunteer Day (5th) – Recognise the volunteers in your community. – DineSmart –Participating venues add a voluntary donation to every bill during the month, to fund the care and support of people experiencing homelessness.
As a cafe or restaurant owner, you have a unique position in your area and are usually recognised as more than just another business. Use this community support calendar to plan at least one event each quarter. This is a great way to strengthen your connection with local people, boost staff engagement, attract socially conscious customers, and set your business apart from competitors.
This doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive – simple gestures like themed menu items, donation drives, or awareness campaigns can make an impact, and your suppliers are often keen to help. Here’s our starter list of recommended causes and events, and you’re sure to be contacted by local organisations with their own fundraising and support requests. To handle these in a proactive and affordable way, use the tips in our related article How to Make Restaurant Community Sponsorship Work for Everyone.
January
– New Year’s Day (1st) – Promote healthy food and lifestyle resolutions – share quotes and experiences from some of your team.
– B1G1 (Business for Good) initiatives – global giving projects with a program of ‘impacts’ to support activities locally or in a variety of countries. A great program supported by Foodie Coaches – see the video at the bottom of this page.
February
– World Cancer Day (4th) – Fundraise for cancer research.
– Valentine’s Day (14th) – How can you extend its meaning beyond red roses and sentimentality?
– Random Acts of Kindness Day (17th) – Encourage community kindness, what could your team organise?
March
– International Women’s Day (8th) celebrates our mothers, sisters, relatives, and friends – in the workplace, in families, and facing adversity.
– Harmony Week (21st-27th) – Celebrate cultural diversity in Australia.
– Clean Up Australia Day (21st) – Support community litter reduction campaigns.
– World Water Day (22nd) – Highlight the importance of sustainable water supplies – share how you’ve reduced water use: a wide variety of ideas here.
– Neighbour Day (Last Sunday in March) – Promote community connections by hosting a neighbourhood meet-and-greet with free coffee or discounted meals.
April
– Earth Day (22nd) – Support environmental protection – a wide variety of ideas here.
– Anzac Day (25th) – Honouring veterans and current service members.
– Grateful Day – it can be at any time; share an image on social media and your gratefulness for a terrific team, nice customers, beautiful weather or new family… Use the #grateful hashtag.
May
– Mother’s Day (2nd Sunday) – Celebrate the mothers who raised us and those facing challenges – a wide variety of ideas here.
– International Nurses Day (12th) – Honour nurses and health care workers on Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
– World No-Tobacco Day (31st) – Support your staff to quit smoking – hospitality workers smoke at twice the rate of the general population!
June
– World Environment Day (5th) – Raise awareness for environmental protection – a wide variety of ideas here.
– Refugee Week (20th-26th) – Supporting refugee communities, so often the people who take on the vital support jobs in hospitality.
– Pride Month – Support LGBTQ+ community events and celebrations
– National Reconciliation Week (27th May – 3rd June) – Learn about shared histories and cultures
July
– Dry July – Support alcohol-free month for cancer support fundraising
– Plastic Free July – Promote reducing single-use plastics
– Local Heroes Day (Flexible Date): Celebrate community volunteers, emergency services, and local people who give their time for others.
August
– Aged Care Employee Day (7th) – Honour aged care workers, looking after the people who look after our parents and grandparents.
– International Youth Day (12th) – Support local youth programs
– CafeSmart – support this great organisation helping the homeless, a special fundraising event is held each August.
September
– Father’s Day (1st Sunday) – Celebrate fathers beyond just another lunch – a wide variety of ideas here.
– RU OK? Day (2nd Thursday) – Supporting mental health awareness, taking it beyond cupcakes and that one question! Great resources here to make it meaningful.
October
– World Teachers’ Day (5th) – Appreciate the educators who support and educate our kids and our employees.
– National Coming Out Day (11th) – Supporting LGBT+ people to accept themselves and walk with pride.
– World Food Day (16th) – Addressing food insecurity, can you highlight a local foodbank and give them some extra support?
– International Chefs Day (20th) – Celebrate cooking staff and traditions.
– Grandparents Day (Last Sunday) – Honouring the older generations.
– Gambling Harm Awareness Week (19th-25th) – Raise awareness of gambling-related issues, a big issue for some of our employees.
November
– Movember – Raising awareness for men’s health issues.
– National Recycling Week (2nd week) – Promote recycling initiatives – share about the activities you do. Recycling is an essential part of every business’s cost control.
– Giving Tuesday (Tuesday after U.S. Thanksgiving) – Encourage charitable giving with a favourite non-profit organisation.
– Grateful Day – it can be at any time; share an image on social media and your gratefulness for a terrific team, nice customers, beautiful weather or new family… Use the #grateful hashtag.
December
– World AIDS Day (1st) – Raise awareness and remember those affected.
– International Volunteer Day (5th) – Recognise the volunteers in your community.
– DineSmart – Participating venues add a voluntary donation to every bill during the month, to fund the care and support of people experiencing homelessness.
See also: 12 Months of Restaurant Promotions and Special Events
How B1G1 is Using Business to Build a Better World
Check the other useful blog posts on the Foodie Coaches website…
Want to get some 1 on 1 help with your business? Talk to one of our coaches