Your community is a big part of you, as you are of it. Even if you’ve just moved to a new area, the people you live around and work amongst are the people who help to shape you. Knowing this can help you to form a bond with them. This is the kind of bond you can rely on when you’re in need of support or a shoulder to cry on.
However, getting involved with your community can be intimidating. You can feel like you don’t fit in, and find it hard to connect over common interests. But there’s always something in a community for everyone to pull from. You just need to know how to interact without feeling spoken over or like you have nothing to give; here are the best places to start.
Get to Know Your Neighbors
You’re living next door to plenty of people. Why not get to know them? Every neighborhood out there is a right tapestry of the kind of people you’ll find all over the local area. Plus, this is a good way to get yourself used to interact with those around you, and you can pick up a lot of useful knowledge about the area through some simple chats on the doorstep.
A friendly word here and there goes a long way. If you feel like it, you could even bake something nice and take it around, which is a good segue into introducing yourself and making a new connection right beside you.
Sign Up to Volunteer
Volunteering is the best way to get involved, hands down. You’re fit and able, you’ve got some time, and you can dedicate both these things to the service of others. A bit of goodwill goes a long way, and being ‘on the ground’ is a great way to get to know the ins and outs of your community. What’s really going on, who needs help, etc.
And when you get involved physically, putting your time and labor to good use, new doors can be opened up to you. Whether you want to one day go on a mission with the right missionary support services, or you’d like to open up your own shelter, charity, or soup kitchen, this could be the starting point.
Attend Local Meetings
Local meetings, including town planning and local government assemblies, is the perfect way to get involved. You can keep up to date with what’s going on at a council level, which gives you a lot more power of the way your area swings and how the people around you think.
Being present is half the battle. When you’re there, you’ve got a chance to stand up and make your voice heard. If you want to see a better library service in town, this is the way to do it. If you want somewhere for your kids to play, this is where to ask for a playground. This simple attendance is evidence of your care for your community!
Write About Local Events
This is another good way to get the word out and make yourself heard. If you’ve got an online presence, post about the things going on in your area. Both on a blog and through social media, you can draw plenty of attention to your town or city. If there’s something exciting happening, this is where to ‘scream’ about it! And a good, in-depth review can go a long way for local businesses and artists, who will be eternally grateful.
Donate as Much as Possible
Donating your old items, whether they be toys, clothes, or household items like kitchen equipment, is quite possibly the easiest way to give back. You help to support charity in your area, as well as allow people who need more than you do to buy things at discounted rates.
Go around your house right now and see if you can have a clearout. Put broken or dirty items in the garbage, but try to accumulate a good bag full of things you can donate. Don’t just throw it out, see if there’s a shop or an organization nearby that’ll take it!
Your community will always benefit from another helping hand. Don’t be afraid to get involved! Anything you can do to uplift causes like those above will make your life richer, and go such a long way in passing that kind of love along. Plus, you can pick up some pretty beneficial skills and experience along the way!
