5 Ways You Can Make a Difference in Your Community Now.

Simple Steps to Make Big Changes

At the end of our life, we will be remembered by the difference we made for others. We have been issued a lie in our current society that we are valued on how much money we make, but that simply isn’t so. 2020 has been a huge eye-opener for the U.S. A fast realization of what truly matters as many have been left without a job, healthcare, or resources to help us cope with these unprecedented times. We all find ourselves stuck at home, drained, and feeling a little hopeless.

Most of us know that taking the time to lighten the load of another will make our own lives better. If you want to feel happier, more balanced, and have a greater sense of purpose right now, I suggest doing something in your local community now.

It’s so easy to get bogged down and watch one day fall into the next. Scrolling through social media will just have you feeling more isolated and alone. Right now we need community perhaps more than ever. Getting involved is always a great way to lift your mood, so here are five ways you can start moving in that positive direction right now.

Volunteer

Right now in your community, there are all kinds of organizations that would appreciate a little help. Think about the kinds of things you would like to give your energy to.

• Hospitals
• Youth Centers
• Food Banks
• Senior Care Facilities
• Animal Shelters

Whether you offer skills, transportation, helping hands, or an ear for others to talk to, volunteering is a great way to make a difference. You can do a quick google search right now to find the perfect way to give back.

Organize a Cleanup

Programs across the nation have been canceled and many cities have laid off all part-time staff. This staff includes the usual crew out cleaning our parks, playgrounds, and streets. It might not sound like the most fun thing to do on a Saturday afternoon, but clean-up projects can really transform a neighborhood. I guarantee someone in your community is organizing one that you can get involved with.

If you see a place in need, reach out to your local parks department and let them know when you’re going to be there. Often they will send someone down to help facilitate, and will most certainly help spread the word.

A simple call out on any local platform will usually do the trick. You can even encourage others to bring their own cleaning materials. It doesn’t take much to make a huge impact. All you need is:

• A big box of garbage bags
• Cardboard to create recycling bins
• Boxes of rubber gloves
• Friends and volunteers

We see trash everywhere, and it leaves a mark on our psyche. It speaks volumes about what’s going on in our collective mental health. Taking the lead and cleaning up is a great way to clear an environment of litter both mentally and physically.

Donate Blood

Blood can only be stored for about a month so there is a constant need. It really is one of the most precious ways to give. Your decision to donate blood can literally save a life. There are many reasons why someone may need a blood transfusion, so it is important that regular donations are received.

The average healthy adult can donate every eight weeks, but less than 10% of eligible healthy adults do. Scheduling yearly on a memorable date might help ensure that you give once a year. My teenage love, Dylan McKay, donated every year on Valentine’s Day as you 90210 fans might remember.

Every donation can save up to three lives! An hour of your day for a quick almost pain-free blood donation can make a life-changing difference for someone in need.

Shop Local

The money you spend at a local retailer or restaurant flows directly back into your community. Keeping your dollars local is a way to make a big difference in your community. Locally owned, and family-owned shops support what is unique to your community. It also creates a cycle where your money is reinvested again and again through other shops and services in the community.

As we begin to phase out of quarantine we have a new appreciation for the local businesses we have grown to love. They need your support and understanding as we figure out how to interact post-COVID.

You have better odds in a locally owned business of being remembered, and getting hands-on service that tends to become a huge process at the big chains. You can see it in the eyes of employees and managers at the big box stores who don’t really care about your business because it affects them in no way at all. Whereas in a locally owned business you are obviously valued and understand that supporting them is putting money into the pockets of people making a difference in their community.

Adopt a Cause

Just like volunteering, you can make a difference with even a small gesture when you adopt a cause. Look around your community and see where you can feel a need. Adopt it as your pet project. Organize an event to raise money for your favorite animal shelter, or donate nice clothing to a women’s shelter. You can decide today that you will donate books once a month to a local daycare, then once you’ve developed that relationship you can ask what other things they need and help to facilitate that through your own social network.

Go to a public meeting in your neighborhood to see what efforts others are working on. Odds are if you’ve noticed a need in the neighborhood others has identified it too. It just takes one person to stand up for something to create change.

Leave a Positive Mark

We should all try and leave our corner of the world a better place than when we arrived there. As our world stands still and we brave through these uncertain times it’s important to stay connected. Reminding ourselves and our community that we are stronger together. Take a moment to think about what you’re passionate about and then go find a way to put that into your community. There is no wrong way to get involved and you will immediately feel better and more connected to your fellow community members by doing so. Instead of focusing on our differences and getting bogged down by it all, decide right now that you will focus on leading your community into a brighter tomorrow by little efforts you start today.