If we have learned anything over the past few months, it’s the importance of connectedness and community. Humans need one another to survive – in both the physical and emotional sense. This fact is especially true for those less fortunate than us; people who lack financial resources, who don’t have a support network of friends and family, who don’t even have somewhere safe and secure to call home. It can be depressing to think about and leave you feeling rather hopeless. Fortunately, there are hundreds of different ways we can help others and make the world a better place. We’ll be talking about them in our blog today. And so, keep reading if you’d like to find out some easy and simple ways to help your local community.
1. Stop to Help
It’s surprising how many people will look away when they see someone else in need. Sometimes, we don’t want the hassle. Other times, we feel too awkward to intervene. Or we don’t know how we could help. Whatever the reason, we’ve all done it at least once. However, if you would like to better yourself and those around you, you should try breaking this habit. Your moment of kindness could make a lasting memory for the other person, helping them in more ways than you might realize. If you’re unsure how you could assist somebody in a particular scenario, it’s worth just saying to them – ‘Is there any way I can help?’ By asking for permission, you’re also not giving them unsolicited aid, which can be unwelcome if they want to maintain their autonomy.
2. Donate Unwanted Items
Most people have possessions they don’t need or want anymore – used furniture, ill-fitting clothes, old toys, and discarded books. Rather than allowing these items to collect dust or throwing them away, you could donate them to a charitable organization like ours. Not only is this perfect for decluttering your home, but it means you’re not wasteful, too. If you’re quite an affluent person, then you’re also giving those less fortunate than you something that they might never have been able to afford before.
3. Fund Good Causes
Most people don’t like the idea of donating to charity but will happily spend their money on more frivolous things. A couple of dollars a month won’t break most people’s banks – and while this amount might seem insignificant to you, it will make a massive difference to somebody else’s life. You could spend $4.99 on renting a movie for the night, or you could spend this amount on feeding a starving family. We say this not to guilt-trip anyone. Instead, it’s about putting things into perspective. For example, by consistently donating to our organization, you can help put a roof over somebody’s head.
4. Volunteer for Charity
If you have spare time and want to be more proactive about making a difference to the community, you could try working for a nonprofit organization. Though this work is unpaid, it’s rewarding in a different respect. Have a look at volunteer opportunities in your local area and see which would best suit your current skillset. This means you can put your talents to good work and bring about definitive change to the community. For instance, at Dorchester Habit, we would love to have volunteers with experience in construction work to build homes for those in need.
5. Shopping Locally
One of the very best ways to help the community is to shop locally. Most people tend to purchase their groceries from big supermarkets, buy clothes from corporate retailers or eat dinner at chain restaurants. In doing so, they provide income to companies that have more than enough capital already. On the other hand, small local businesses struggle because they aren’t getting enough customers. This issue impacts the local economy, too. However, by deciding to the used furniture store with your local stores, you can reverse this trend and give back to the community. So, next time you need some fresh vegetables, try heading to the nearest independently owned farm shop.
6. Keep Things Clean
The environment is equally important as the people within your community. Therefore, we should all try our hardest to ensure that the area is as clean and green as possible. Not only will this make your community look nice but also prevent pollution from occurring. But how exactly does one go about keeping the local area clean? Well, for starters, you could try picking up rubbish wherever you see it. Though it’s clearing up somebody else’s mess is frustrating, the environment is ultimately more important. If you spot other problems (such as fly-tipping spots, potholes, and overflowing bins), then you might want to report these to the local council. Being aware of using plastics and recycling wherever possible is essential, too. If there are insufficient recycling facilities in your community, you could also campaign for the local authority to install them.
7. Getting to Know the Neighbors
Sometimes, you don’t need to help on a large scale to make a big difference. Simply being a good person and assisting your neighbors is more than enough. For example, if your neighbors are elderly, they would probably really appreciate having someone grab their weekly food shop for them or maintain their garden. Meanwhile, neighbors with young children or animals might need someone to look after them from time to time. It’s worth the effort of getting to know your neighbors to help tackle rates of loneliness, too. Loneliness is one of the biggest problems humans struggle with, and you can help them overcome it. It can be debilitating emotionally and physically – making people more likely to develop disease or die early. By simply extending your friendship or lending a hand, you can really help your neighbors with many things.
These are some of the most straightforward and simplest ways to help your local charitable organization. Follow our advice to make a real impact on the world and the people around you. If you want to find out more about how you can help the Dorchester community, get in touch with us today.
