6 Helpful Ways to Give Back to the Community
Our community does so much to serve us and our families, and giving back is the best way to strengthen the community we cherish. Giving to people in need or showing kindness has been linked to health benefits and releases of endorphins that make us feel happier for helping someone. Serving your community might be a goal you have always had but never knew how or where to start. Or some people feel as though they do not have the means to make a difference from where they are. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to show support for our community when it is needed more than ever. Here are six helpful and simple ways to give back to the community that make a difference:
Donate material goods
Perhaps the most straightforward of ways to give back to the community is to donate food or unused possessions to charitable causes. Making a donation doesn’t require spending extra money or making a consuming time commitment. Beforehand, make sure anything you give is in quality condition and know the specific policies about donations from that organization. Some examples of organizations that accept donations are:
- Animal shelters in need of toys and food
- Goodwill for furniture and clothing
- Food banks in Montgomery County, Texas
- Homeless shelters in Texas
Give blood
Donating blood is a selfless way to serve your community and aid people in serious condition. Blood donations are especially helpful for cancer patients, survivors of traumatic injuries, and those with chronic illnesses. While not everyone can give blood, the demand is constant and organizations such as the American Red Cross urge any eligible adult to make the life-saving donation. To donate blood in the southeast region of Texas, the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center makes it easy for users to find a donor center or community drive near you.
Clean up the community
One item that can take away from the beauty and environment of our community is trash and litter. A clean community is a display of the care its members have. Clean-up events not only bring community members together but tend to the natural landscapes and bustling city spaces. Even if you aren’t interested in joining a group or participating in an event, picking up trash throughout the day is one of the easiest ways to give back to the community.
Support local businesses
Our communities are full of promising entrepreneurs and small business owners that deserve our attention and financial support. Local businesses are able to meet your needs from furniture, flooring, and creative boutiques. You can even attend events like fairs and farmer’s markets to seek out local businesses and talk to community members in a meaningful way. Supporting local businesses can go beyond buying merchandise. Follow and engage with their social media pages or leave a positive review on Google or Yelp.
Participate in fundraising events
Take advantage of local fundraising events to devote your time and money toward a charitable cause. Whether it’s on a local or national scale, group fundraising is one of the more active ways to give back to the community. What’s great about fundraisers is that they can appeal to specific skill sets and interests so that everyone feels able to contribute. Bake sales, 5K runs, and tournaments are only the beginning for raising money to build and strengthen communities.
Perform a random act of kindness
Giving back to the community starts on the smallest scale with the people we interact with everyday. That’s why we suggest performing a random act of kindness to inspire kindness in your community. Random acts of kindness refer to unexpected, selfless gestures to spread positivity and happiness. They can be as small as paying for a stranger’s coffee or donating a used car to someone in need. Think about showing kindness out of the blue when you want to make a difference.
