Volunteering: A Simple Way to Give Back to Your Local Community

Should you volunteer in your local community? The answer to this question is always a resounding “yes.” There are many ways you can volunteer your time.

Your community needs you, and you need it. You live in your area and want to help see it thrive, grow, and improve. One way you can assist in these efforts is to volunteer your time and energy. Your volunteer time can give you a fresh perspective on things going on around you and show you various ways you can help and what you can do to improve your local area for all to enjoy.

Why should you volunteer in your local community?

Volunteering isn’t just for the people who receive your services and time, it’s also for you. When you feel stuck and uncertain, this can be a good way to get out of that feeling while giving your time and energy. Here are some great reasons to volunteer:

• It’s good for you – It helps reduce your stress and makes you feel healthier
• It saves resources – Your volunteer time has value, and that helps organizations spend money on improvements and resources instead of people
• Volunteers gain professional experience – This can be a great way to test out a career
• Promotes personal growth and self-esteem – Volunteering gives you a better perspective of your community
• Strengthens the community – You help by supporting families, improving schools, supporting youth programs, and beautifying the community through your volunteer work
• You learn more about yourself – You will likely learn a new skill or talent through your volunteer work
• This is your chance to give back – It shows you care about where you live and ensuring its continued beauty and growth
• Encourages civic responsibility – This is an excellent investment in your community
• YOU can make a difference – every person counts!

Where can you volunteer your time and energy?

When you volunteer in the local community, you need to find a place to spend your time that matches your skills, your values and can make a difference. Here are some great places you can volunteer your time.

Local Library

Volunteers can be asked to organize the shelves, work the desk, and run events or programs. Some libraries host events that allow you to read to children, blind people, or the illiterate who simply want to spend time listening to a wonderful story.

Public Media Production

Many towns have a public media center that broadcasts productions, but they need volunteers to help get the message out there. These are great places to volunteer in your local community to share information about what’s happening in your local area.

Community Arts Center

If you’re the creative type, a great way to spend your volunteer time is at a community arts center where you can help coordinate and run arts and crafts programs. You could be an usher at a local theater, help at an art gallery, or coordinate programs at the art center.

Hospital or Medical Center

Hospital staffs are typically overworked and many don’t have much time to engage with patients except to administer treatments and medication. Many people in hospitals would welcome a friendly face to sit with them. Another great place to volunteer is at a local eldercare facility which is filled with retirees who would live for a weekly visit from a new friend.

School District

Your local school might need help with tutoring, providing childcare during PTA meetings, or assisting teachers. This is a great way to volunteer in your local community and give you a good idea of whether or not teaching is in your future. Reach out to your local teachers and school system to learn more about helping out.

Animal Shelter

Many animal shelters have more animals than they know what to do with and have limited funds to feed these animals. You can volunteer to work at the shelter to help animals. You’ll need to be ready to do things like walking dogs, cleaning cages, and meeting with potential adopters. Be careful, you could be tempted to bring several pets home.

Food Bank

Your local food bank is one of the most important places you can volunteer your time in your local community. You could help by running the desks, organizing and packing the food, serving meals, or picking up donations around your local community. This is a fantastic way to give back to your local area.

Local Park

Does your local parks and recreation department keep the parks clean or are the parks left without much maintenance or care? If it’s the latter, you’ll want to volunteer at the park, clean it up, and maintain the equipment to keep it nice for the community.

Get out there and find some great ways to volunteer your time and energy in your local community. YOU can make a difference!