Take a garbage bag while walking through the neighborhood: Pick up any litter along the way. As a by-product, you can get some exercise built into your day.Shop with locally owned businesses, saving time and money: Many locally owned businesses offer services like free gift-wrapping and delivery. And a percentage of your sales taxes go directly to the local community.Find positive aspects of your community share with other people: A positive image encourages residents to shop locally, increases the chance new businesses will open in the area and promotes growth.Attend a local festival or other event: Many have free admission and activities. Most festivals are actually fundraisers for non-profit organizations who make their money through sponsorships. Since sponsors look at attendance numbers to decide how much to give, your family can add to the number and help increase what businesses give next year.Write a letter to local elected officials encouraging them for making good decisions for the community: People work harder when they know they are appreciated. And elected officials seldom hear enough encouraging words.Put a potted plant on your front porch: When your home looks spruced up, it makes the whole neighborhood and the community to look better as well.Take left over dinner to an elderly neighbor: If you have a family of four, cook enough dinner for five one night and deliver a plate to the widow next door. Your delivery helps you to get to know your neighbors better. And police promote knowing your neighbors as the best way to fight neighborhood crime.Look for opportunities to give in your community: Many schools collect items, such as like canned foods, old coats, toys and eyeglasses, for less fortunate families.Vote: While the Presidential election comes around only once every four years, elections happen every year. Check out the candidates for local and state elections.Encourage your employer to sponsor local events, join a civic organization or allow employees to volunteer during work hours: Many businesses have volunteer programs to reward employees for volunteering. Local news media often cover large volunteer events and having employee representation gives businesses extra publicity.
Writing ideas!
1. Get involved as a volunteer
There are plenty of opportunities out there if you look out for them. If you’re considering ways to get involved in the community as a volunteer, but have little time to spare, look out for flexible roles that can fit around your needs.
You could try being a:
• Mentor to a young person • School governor • Befriender to a lonely older person • Hospital visitor • Conservation volunteer • Community project worker • Charity shop assistant
To find volunteering opportunities in your local area use Do-it’s search tool or contact your local volunteering centre.
2. Support local businesses
Support your local businesses by buying locally. Think before you buy. Instead of buying from supermarket chains, back local farmers and purchase local produce instead. You could also attend local events and festivals.
3. Local tidy ups
Small things like litter picking and gardening can help to make your local area a nicer place to live. Look out for Big Tidy Up events where members of the community all club together to spruce up their corner of the world.
4. Help your neighbours
Offering your neighbours some support is a great way of getting to know them and if you look out for others, they’ll probably return the favour too. It could be something as simple as doing the shopping for an older person or collecting the post when next door are away.
5. Raise money
If you’ve got small change to hand, you could give this to charity collectors on the street or the homeless. If you’re a OneFamily customer who is involved in a local community project, take a look at the Foundation.
6. Donate Donate old items of clothing to local homeless shelters, food to animal shelters and any household items to local charity shops. It all helps.
