The best communities are full of people who choose to get involved. They help their neighbors, show up for local events, and give generously when someone needs help. This has nothing to do with the income level of the neighborhood. Rich and poor communities can use the power of volunteering to strengthen their community bonds. It’s important to think of volunteering as a year-round activity, and not just something to do over Thanksgiving or Christmas.
There are plenty of ways to get involved in your local community as a volunteer. Even if you don’t have a lot of time or if you don’t have any special skills to offer, there is a volunteer opportunity out there for you. Here are some options for getting involved.
Volunteer at the Food Bank
Food insecurity is a major issue that affects millions of Americans. Food banks fill a critical need, especially for people who face unemployment. There are also many elderly people and families with young children who rely on food banks for year-round meals. Most people who use food banks do not count on them as their sole food source. Guests usually use food banks to supplement their pantry when times are hard.
If you want to volunteer at the food bank, there are several ways to get involved.
First, you can buy additional canned goods during your weekly shopping trips. Drop them off at the food bank on your way home, and you’ll be helping feed your neighbors. If you have a few spare hours to offer, then you could take on some administrative tasks to assist your local food bank. They always need help sorting donations, emailing sponsors, or setting up calendars and outreach so that people in need can find them. The last way to volunteer is by helping prepare food. Not all food banks function as soup kitchens, but many of them offer prepared food one day a week. If you like to cook and want to get face-to-face with people in need in your community, then sign up for a regular shift in the kitchen. You could be peeling potatoes or delivering trays of food to people who can’t walk. Whatever you do, your work will be highly appreciated.
Clean Up the Environment
It’s easy to get involved in cleaning up your local neighborhood. If you live by a park or a body of water, it’s especially important to take responsibility for the ecosystem. Sometimes, humans consciously litter and cause damage to plants and animals. Other times, it’s simply a mistake. Either way, we all need to chip in and pick up trash from the environment.
There are usually local organizations that plan group outings for picking up trash. If you want to join a group, you can sign up for a weekly or monthly event. They usually provide gloves, a trash bag, and a trash picker. You will probably wear a neon vest and you’ll get to know other eco-warriors in your community.
Of course, anybody can clean up their local environment. It doesn’t matter whether you live by a park or in the middle of the city. You can participate with a group or alone. Simply protect your hands with gloves and bring a garbage bag. Be very careful of things like needles or prescription drugs. Dispose of the trash safely. Listen to music to make this activity more enjoyable. You might even discover new parts of your neighborhood that you’ve never explored before.
Visit an Animal Shelter
If you love animals, there’s no better volunteering activity than working at your local animal shelter. There are so many ways to get involved in caring for animals in need. If you only have a few hours, you could volunteer to take dogs for walks on your lunch break. This helps them get fresh air and an escape from the shelter. It also helps socialize them and train them for leash walking.
If you don’t have time during the day, then come on a weekend and sign up for a shift to read books to sheltered animals. Staff members are often so busy during the day that they can’t stop to give long periods of attention to each animal. That’s where volunteers come in. This is a great activity for early readers and teenagers, too. Bring a few books and sit by an animal’s cage, reading to them aloud for thirty minutes or so. Many animals are incredibly comforted by the human voice and the reassuring presence of a nearby person.
Of course, you can also foster animals if you have the time and energy to care for an animal in your home. Fostering animals can be incredibly rewarding, especially when you see them go successfully to their new home. Otherwise, you can donate blankets and supplies, volunteer at the front desk, or clean cages. Every little bit helps, and the animals in need will thank you.
Help Veterans
Finally, there is one community that is often overlooked by eager volunteers: veterans. If you can, consider making donations for veterans in crisis in Los Angeles. At the veteran’s medical center in California, there are lots of brave men and women who would appreciate some support. You could send cards with encouraging messages, or even an anonymous bouquet of flowers to encourage someone in recovery.
The VA hospital in Los Angeles is known for its high-quality rehabilitation programs. But that doesn’t make it any easier on the people who have to relearn how to walk, or who deal with PTSD as a part of their military experience. Give back by remembering veterans. You can help at the veteran’s medical center in California or just educate yourself about the challenges veterans face.
Start by looking for a neighbor you can help. Reach out to community organizations to find one that aligns with your values. There are a lot of great ways to get involved, and there’s no better time than today.
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