As an area resident or business owner, you may want to support the local community through various means. You can make a one-time donation, give a recurring donation, or offer your time, service, and skills to make a positive difference. Here are four ways that you can help the community in which you live or work.
Support Local Recreation
Sponsor or pledge to benefit free- or low-cost public recreation facilities. Writing a check to help keep city or county parks clean and safe, clearing littered waterways, and repairing area playgrounds can make a huge difference in your town. Giving families safe and wholesome places to explore, relax, and have fun is a wonderful way to support the community. Instead of making a financial donation, you could also organize a clean-up or repair crew of volunteers to tackle some of the work after getting authorization from local authorities.
Donate to Charitable Organizations
There are countless simple ways to give to area charities. Aside from the routine financial contribution, you can volunteer or services to help out temporarily or routinely. One example would be to help at an assisted living facility by transporting residents to doctor appointments or delivering prepared meals from a food agency. You can read to bedfast nursing home residents through an agency that provides socialization to those who are shut-in or chronically ill.
Volunteer at Public Service Agencies
Your town likely hosts social service programs that provide for people who are unemployed or struggling with issues like homelessness or mental illness. You may want to donate groceries to a food bank, for example, or give used bedding in good condition to a homeless shelter accepting those items. You might also donate time to an organization like the Red Cross to clean up a disaster-struck area. Many donations of cash or labor are short-term and won’t negatively impact your lifestyle.
Contribute to Education Needs
The colleges in your community would appreciate your eagerness to donate to college athletes. Athletic programs often suffer cutbacks and have to make do with worn athletic equipment and uniforms. Contributing to a college athletic team or sports program can motivate student athletes to get involved and work hard at performing well for the college. You could also donate books to a public or private school. Preschools might appreciate used computers or printers in good condition for their staff to use.
There are myriad ways to make a difference in your community and improve the lives of local residents. Choose an interest you believe in and support it in the way you wish to help neighbors and friends enjoy community activities even more.
About the author:
Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her husky, Snowball.