Article 2- Sep 24
5 Tips for Community Engagement
Put your passions to work by giving back in various ways
by Chris, Employment Coordinator
So, where do you start if you want to be engaged and involved in bettering your community? The hardest part is sometimes deciding what activities fit you best AND what issues are most important to you. Our suggestion? Think about things that you want to change in your community. What would you like to help improve? What gets you excited to help change? Figure out what your top issues are and then find ways to make a difference in those areas. If you are needing some suggestions, check out the five tips below. Do any of these allow you to exercise your passions?
Tip #1 Donate
Donating is a great way to help your community and free up space in your home. Old clothes are a popular contribution – a shirt that just doesn’t fit the way it used to or a washed out pair of jeans with one too many holes could be just what someone is looking for. You can feel good that your items won’t go to waste and will benefit someone in need. As the adage goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure!
Blood is another commodity that often goes overlooked. As reported by The American Red Cross, only 3% of eligible donors give blood annually. Did you know that blood cells drawn from a single donation can be separated and used to save multiple people? Cancer patients also rely on blood transfusions to ensure that their bodies maintain an adequate number of platelets following chemotherapy. Donating blood saves lives!
Tip #3 Help a Family Member
Another option to feel good about is helping a family member in need. For those who have difficulty cutting the grass or shoveling the driveway, another pair of hands seldom goes unappreciated. Sometimes accompanying a family member to the grocery store or just visiting for a short while each week is all it takes to make a difference!
Youth with disabilities bring a unique perspective to the community. Graduating high school is a transitional period in which your world grows a lot in just a few short months. Your experiences could help shed light on challenges faced by people with a similar disability or upbringing!
Tip #5 Volunteer
There is no better way to help your community than to donate your time. Libraries, animal shelters, and food banks are always in need of more helpers. Volunteering in a hospital is an especially valuable and enriching experience. Volunteer needs range from pouring water for patients, helping at the front desk, and servicing the gift shop. Volunteering in a hospital is a great choice for those seeking to enter the medical field.
If these tips don’t address the issues that are important to you, then brainstorm other options. The important thing is taking action. That is what civic engagement is all about… taking steps to better your community. So, figure out where and how you want to help, and go for it!