As the warm summer days stretch out into July, I sit here and think about how truly blessed I am. I have a loving husband, two wonderful sons, a roof over our heads, and a great job working from home for Altruic Advisors. With our good fortune in mind, I’ve been thinking of ways to give back to our community.
Donate Food and Other Items To Those In Need
Summer is a great time to clean out your closets and donate gently used clothing or household items to nonprofit organizations. Goodwill and the Salvation Army are common places to bring donations, but you can also seek out smaller local charities such as homeless shelters or community outreach organizations. And while you’re shopping for your backyard BBQ, don’t forget to pick up a few extra canned goods to donate as well. Many churches – including our own – collect food items every week during services. Or you can bring your goods directly to a local food bank. Just make sure to follow the food bank’s guidelines for what they can and cannot accept.
Spend Time Volunteering
People choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. For some, it offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around them. For others, it provides an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. Summer is a great time to get your entire family involved, with the kids out of school and looking for something to do. Many organizations will be seeking volunteers for fun outdoor activities like tending community gardens or restoring natural areas. Reach out to your local nonprofits to see what volunteer opportunities they have available.
Be Thoughtful When Shopping
If your idea of summer fun involves more air conditioning than outdoor adventures, there are still many ways you can give back while shopping at your favorite stores. Amazon Smile has been around for years and makes it incredibly easy to donate to a charity of your choice. Just visit https://smile.amazon.com and do your shopping as usual, and Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to the charity of your choice. What an easy way to donate! At our local grocery stores, we also have the option to round up our purchase to the nearest dollar for a donation to The Make-A-Wish Foundation. If everyone did that when checking out, all that spare change would quickly add up.
Lend A Helping Hand
It doesn’t take much to brighten someone’s day – holding a door open, giving up your seat on the train, or just sharing a smile with a stranger. Take five minutes to help your neighbor unload their car. Pick up trash on a busy hiking trail. Teach your kids about giving back. You never know when the smallest action could make a difference in someone’s life.
How will you make a difference this summer?