Get Involved In Your Community By Taking These Actions

Getting involved in your community comes with a lot of benefits for both you and the people in your neighborhood, and there are many ways you can help out and be of service whether you’re a citizen or a business owner. The idea of making real change can seem daunting at times, especially when so many people need assistance or a voice, but there are several simple ways you can step up and take action. You might start, for example, by checking out Cars2Charities, where you can discover a charity to which you can donate your used car. Here are a few additional ideas to help you get started.

Go back to school.

When thinking about how you can be of help to your community, consider both the skills you already have and those you’re interested in acquiring. Have you ever thought about going back to school? Becoming an educator is a wonderful way to be of service to the people in your community, and it’s possible to earn a nursing degree online while you work a day job and take care of your other responsibilities. Do some research to make sure the school you choose is accredited and has competitive tuition rates, as every institution is different. You can also look online for available nursing jobs to get an idea of the demand, which varies by city but is typically high just about everywhere.

Volunteer.

Nursing is a wonderful way to make a lasting impact on your community, but there are also some things you can do locally that don’t require any training. Volunteering at a women’s shelter or food bank is a great way to help out those who have recently left an abusive household or are experiencing homelessness. 

You can also ask administrators at your child’s school what their needs are; some schools have created backpack programs for kids whose parents are on the lower end of the income spectrum. Feeding America explains that these programs provide healthy snacks and meals on weekends and over the summer, and many schools need help gathering donations and sorting them.

Get involved in community safety.

One way to get involved that helps kids and adults alike is a community safety program. This can be as simple as utilizing social media to stay in touch with your neighbors about neighborhood events, or as involved as holding weekly meetings to talk about any concerns or issues. 

It’s important to make sure your neighbors understand that a neighborhood watch program doesn’t require them to get involved when they believe a crime is occurring; the point is just for everyone to look out for one another and stay safe. Talk to your neighbors about whether they have security cameras installed outside and how they can be useful, whether they’ve ever been the victim of a crime in the area, and how they can join you in creating a watch program.

Bring everyone together.

Community safety is essential, but there are other ways you can bring your neighbors together, such as creating a Little Free Library. Or Treehugger suggests starting a community garden project. You could even set up a directory of available babysitters in the neighborhood, which would be beneficial to both parents and teens who want to make some extra money. Consider using social media to get in touch with your neighbors and find out what they’d like to see more of in the community.

Finding ways to get involved in your town doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start small and work your way up to bigger projects, and stay in touch with your neighbors so you can bounce ideas off one another.