How Service PTO Can Make a Real Difference for Children in Foster Care

In recent years, many companies have expanded their benefits packages to include something called service PTO. For nonprofits like Rayola, this growing workplace trend represents a powerful opportunity to turn paid work hours into meaningful community impact.

Service PTO (sometimes called volunteer PTO or VTO) allows employees to take paid time off from their regular jobs specifically to volunteer with nonprofit organizations. Unlike traditional vacation days, service PTO is designed to encourage civic engagement, community service, and employee well-being, all while supporting organizations doing vital work.

For people who work in corporate or salaried roles, service PTO can be an accessible way to give back without sacrificing income or personal time. For us at Rayola, service PTO volunteers help make our mission possible.

What Is Service PTO?

Service PTO is a benefit offered by many employers that provides employees with a set number of paid hours or days each year to volunteer. Depending on the company, employees may be able to use these hours individually or as part of team-based service projects. Some organizations even allow service PTO to be used flexibly — during workdays, over multiple shifts, or for ongoing volunteer commitments.

Employers offer service PTO for several reasons. Research consistently shows that employees who volunteer are more engaged, more satisfied with their work, and more likely to feel connected to their company’s values. Service PTO also strengthens corporate social responsibility initiatives and helps businesses build positive relationships in the communities where they operate.

For employees, service PTO removes one of the biggest barriers to volunteering: time. Instead of choosing between work responsibilities and community service, employees can integrate both.

Why Service PTO Matters for Rayola

Rayola is a nonprofit based in Northern Michigan with a mission to provide comfort and care to children in foster care and any child in need. Through thoughtfully assembled care packages, handmade quilts, and community-centered events, Rayola ensures that children facing instability are met with dignity, warmth, and tangible support.

Like many small nonprofits, Rayola relies heavily on volunteers to carry out its work. Service PTO allows professionals, who would be too busy to help otherwise, to contribute their skills, energy, and time during regular work hours.

When employees choose to use their service PTO with Rayola, they are not only supporting a local organization; they are directly impacting children who need reassurance, consistency, and care during challenging moments in their lives.

Ways to Volunteer with Rayola Using Service PTO

Service PTO volunteers can support Rayola in a variety of hands-on and behind-the-scenes ways. Whether someone prefers working independently, collaborating in a group, or participating in one-time events, there are opportunities to match many schedules and skill sets.

Quilting and handmade items

One of Rayola’s most meaningful offerings is handmade quilts created specifically for children in foster care. Volunteers can help cut fabric, sew quilt tops, assemble kits, or finish quilts. These items become deeply personal sources of comfort for children, often traveling with them from placement to placement.

Packing care packages

Rayola distributes care packages filled with essential items and comforting touches for children entering foster care or experiencing crisis. Volunteers can help sort supplies, assemble packages, and prepare them for distribution. This work is well-suited for individuals or corporate teams using service PTO together.

Assisting with Rayola events

From community fundraisers to volunteer workdays, Rayola hosts events that bring supporters together and raise awareness for children in need. Service PTO volunteers can help with setup, coordination, logistics, and outreach, ensuring events run smoothly and successfully.

Flexible and skills-based volunteering

Beyond hands-on projects, Rayola welcomes volunteers who can assist in other ways — whether that’s organizing materials, supporting administrative tasks, or contributing professional skills when needed. Service PTO allows employees to use their unique talents to strengthen the organization’s capacity.

How Employees Can Get Started

Employees interested in using service PTO should begin by checking their company’s volunteer policies and requirements. Many employers ask volunteers to register their nonprofit, log service hours, or receive supervisor approval in advance.

Rayola makes it easy to learn about current volunteer opportunities and get involved. Interested volunteers can visit rayolawb.com to explore ways to help, learn more about the organization’s mission, and connect with the Rayola team.

For corporate employees in particular, volunteering with Rayola can be a meaningful way to align workplace values with real-world impact, turning a benefit offered by an employer into life-changing support for children.

Turning Paid Time into Purpose

Service PTO is more than a workplace perk; it’s a bridge between professional life and community care. When employees use service PTO to volunteer with Rayola, they help transform paid hours into quilts that comfort, packages that support, and events that uplift.

For children in foster care and children in need across Northern Michigan, these acts of service send a powerful message: you matter, you are seen, and you are cared for.