Tag Archives: Giving Back

Important Ways You Can Give Back to Your Community

Giving Back, Community, Doing Good

Have you ever wished you could do more to help others out? That is a feeling that many people share. The problem is, many want to help those less fortunate, but don’t know where to start.  Randy Lewis, author of “No Greatness Without Goodness,” believes that everyone—including businesses—are responsible for making the world a better place. Furthermore, according to a study conducted by Harvard Business Review, “happier people give more and giving makes people happier, such that happiness and giving may operate in a positive feedback loop (with happier people giving more, getting happier, and giving even more).”

Fortunately, you don’t have to travel far and wide or donate to organizations that you don’t fully trust in order to give back. You may be able to find some opportunities right in your backyard. Here’s a few ways you can get started with giving back to your community:

 

Donate Some Items

Many families in neighborhoods around the world struggle to support their daily lives. When you donate household goods, you’re helping another family create a better home and environment for their children. Comb through your house and put a sticky notes on everything you don’t use or need. This could be anything from an old coffee maker to a pair of shoes.

Once you’ve gathered all the items you no longer need, you can choose to donate it to local organizations or host a yard sale and donate the proceeds to a local charity. Alternatively, you can consider hosting your own clothing or food drive, and donate the items you receive in bulk.

Giving Back, Community, Doing Good

Visit a Senior Center

Visiting an assisted living home is a great way to give back to the community and make a difference. Many seniors are forgotten or don’t have families of their own to keep them company and spend quality time with them, and visiting them enhances their quality of life, giving them something to look forward to.

Just like everyone else, seniors need some compassion and company too, especially those who don’t have family members to visit them. Many senior homes have programs and events that create the perfect opportunity for you to get involved. If you aren’t sure what to expect, you can visit the home ahead of time by scheduling a tour and letting the admin team know that you’re interesting in doing a volunteer visit. You can even come up with your own ideas and pitch it to the senior home in question. For example, why not gather a few friends and have a game night at your senior center?

Giving Back, Community, Doing Good

Serve at a Food Kitchen

Food kitchens aren’t just popular during the holiday season. In many neighborhoods around the world, people rely on them for daily meals. According to DoSomething.org, 1 in 6 Americans face hunger. Furthermore, more than 1 in 5 children are at risk for hunger; for minorities, the statistics are even worse.

The USDA defines “food insecurity” as the lack of access or inability to feed all household members at all times. Households with children are significantly more likely to experience food insecurity than those without. If you do a little research, you’ll find that there’s likely a food donation center not too far away. Contact your local food kitchen about what you can expect as a volunteer, what you can do to prepare, and whether you can bring anything to aid the process.

Soup kitchens and food donation centers rely on people who are able to donate their time, and you’ll meet many interesting people, from those that you serve food to, to the other volunteers helping beside you.

Giving Back, Community, Doing Good

 Visit a Homeless Shelter

Like a soup kitchen or food donation center, a homeless shelter is a good way to gain a deeper understanding of how other people live, and to make a contribution to their lives. Research homeless centers in your area; you may have to travel a bit more to find the nearest center, but it will be well worth your time.

One thing you may learn about being in a homeless shelter is that many of the preconceived notions you have about homeless people are wrong. As you learn about different people and start to hear their stories—especially if you come back time and time again—you find out that there are many reasons people end of homeless. Some people had no family to guide them, while others were hardworking people who lost jobs and were never able to pick themselves back up. The more you work with homeless people, the more likely you are to learn gratitude and humility.

Giving Back, Community, Doing Good

This is a collaborative guest post. The views and ideas expressed are not necessarily those of Mommy Ramblings.


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Living on a Tight Budget? 6 Creative Ways to Be More Charitable

The holidays often inspire people to give back to those less fortunate. However, if you’re on a tight budget, you may not think that you have the means to do some good. Giving can be done any time of the year. You also don’t need to be a professional athlete or Hollywood actor to make your own mark in this world. Here are 6 creative ways you can be more charitable without breaking your budget.

Offer Your Time

If you’re looking to be more charitable, your time can be a precious gift. If you’re handy and do a good job maintaining your home,  you can volunteer to build houses for those in need. For those who love and adore animals, you may want to foster dogs and cats until they’ve found their forever homes. After work, tutor kids in language, math or reading at an under-privileged group home. During the holidays, offer to serve meals or hand out food at a food bank or soup kitchen.

Save Spare Change

Between work and family, your life may be filled with challenges. Money struggles, going through a divorce or being falsely accused of domestic violence can prove devastating. The struggles can even ruin your reputation and hinder you from getting ahead with your career. However, by becoming more charitable, you’ll be bringing good into your household. With the wide number of groups and organizations that are looking for assistance, you may not have the funds to assist everyone.

If you’re limited on cash and have spare change lying around, put it in a bucket. Every time you pay for groceries, clothes or other necessities, you can put your change into this container. As the money adds up, you’ll have enough coins to put toward charities such as the Salvation Army kettle. There are other small monetary donations that won’t make too much of a dent in your checking account. Popular methods include when the cashier at a retail establishment asks you to donate $1 to help a homeless pet shelter or child with cancer.

Keep Your Eyes Open

Your local supermarket or retail clothing store may offer two-for-one sales or discounts on items. If you get an extra set of freebies, think about donating goods to a homeless shelter. The holiday season is a great time to declutter your home. If your used merchandise is in good condition, your local Goodwill center or thrift store may benefit from the clothes, shoes, coats and housewares. Your old electronics may also be valuable as they can be refurbished and sold to families in need. Eyewear can also be costly. Instead of tossing out your old glasses to make room for new, the Lions Club has a sight program that collects used eyeglasses.

Be Kind to Planet Earth

The Earth has taken a beating in recent years as pollution and other contaminants continue to harm the planet. If you’re looking to protect Mother Nature, adopt eco-friendly habits with the family. If you get the paper or magazines delivered, recycle the material. You can also use cloth bags routinely when grocery shopping or tote a reusable mug when bringing your coffee to work. You may also volunteer for your cities trash cleanup program designed to keep roadways and highways litter free.

Get Moving for a Cause

If you’re looking to become more charitable and stay fit, you can walk or run for a cause. There are a number of organizations such as finding a cure for breast cancer and helping the hungry who use walks and races to raise money. Encourage your friends and family members to get more involved and make a day out of the event. The Internet has a host of offerings, and the money to race is typically minimal.

Focus on Your Family

Some say that charity begins at home, and it actually does. Although you may have plans to save the world, offer your family some love and undivided attention first. Instead of burying your nose in your laptop or cell phone, ditch the electronics and focus on your children, pets and partner. Break out the games or get outside and go for a walk or bike ride.

If you’ve stretched your finances to the brink, it can be challenging monetarily to offer your assistance. But giving back to those who are in need doesn’t always mean reaching for your check book. Using the above strategies, you can become more charitable and still stay on target with your budget.

This is a sponsored guest post that does not necessarily reflect the views or ideals of Mommy Ramblings. 


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