Even if you lead a busy life, there are many reasons to sacrifice your time and support the local community. Along with being able to support worthwhile causes and improve the area, you can supply essential help to those in need.
The benefits are not only for others, either. You can also profit from the experience in various ways, such as:
- Make new friends
- Learn new skills
- Stay connected with your community
- Advance your career prospects
- Improve your physical and mental health
Regarding the latter point, volunteering can help with everything from depression to gaining a sense of self-worth.
There’s another positive point about supporting the local community: there is no set amount of time you need to donate. You can volunteer full-time or do it on a one-time basis. As long as you’re giving back in some form, you – and the community – can experience the advantages.
With these positives defined, you will want to dive right in with your volunteer work. For some inspiration, here are six ways to help your community:
1. Donate your old possessions
To begin with, one of the easiest ways to help the community is to donate any old possessions that you no longer want to keep. Along with being able to pass your items on for a good cause, it’s also an excellent chance to declutter your home.
As for what items you want to donate, the choices are virtually endless. Goodwill shops will gladly accept the likes of unwanted clothes, jewelry, books, kitchen equipment, furniture, and electronic devices.
However, if you have an old car that you want to replace, even this can be donated. For example, you could give your vehicle to Rawhide car donations to help at-risk families and youth. You receive a tax deduction for your generosity, while the vehicle proceeds are placed directly into programs designed to help the disadvantaged.
2. Donate money
Another method of donating is by providing money to worthwhile causes. Local charities and organizations that feed the hungry are always open to accepting donations, so you won’t have trouble finding something to support. With that said, you should always verify the charity is a legitimate one before you part with your money.
In addition, you could use this as a reason to create a charity fundraiser. Instead of simply donating a portion of your own money, you can start your own event. Not only will you draw more attention to a particular charity and their work, but it will also help to get the community involved.
3. Take up a volunteer opportunity
If you browse a website like VolunteerMatch, you might be surprised at the number of volunteer opportunities available. You don’t have to simply go with a position because it’s available – you can select something that appeals to your hobbies and interests.
Volunteer positions include:
- Working with animals
- Mentoring young people
- Helping with community projects
- Feeding the hungry
- Visiting people stuck in hospital
Along with benefitting the community, volunteering is a great way to battle the effects of loneliness. It allows you to get out of the house and interact with other people.
4. Help your neighbors
While helping the community as a whole is important, you can always start closer to home and begin assisting your neighbors.
Touching upon the previous section, a large number of people suffer from loneliness and the psychological/health problems that it causes. With this in mind, pay a visit to your neighbors and see how you can provide a helping hand. It might be just to have a chat or assist with their weekly shopping, but it can make a massive difference to their wellbeing in more ways than one.
5. Get tidying
It might seem a trivial point when compared to others, but picking up litter around the local area helps to make it a more pleasant place to live for residents.
Moreover, you can also help with tidying up larger issues, such as fly-tipping and graffiti. If you don’t want to tackle these problems by yourself, simply report them to the local authority.
6. Support small local businesses
It goes without saying, but independent businesses are an integral part of any community. Yet they are always under constant threat, whether it is due to economic downturns or competition from large multinational corporations.
As a result, you should do what you can to support local businesses. Buying their products or services is a solid starting point. Furthermore, you should spread the word and let people know about your favorite local businesses. In this day and age, this can be done on the Internet by sharing posts on social media and leaving positive reviews.
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