You should love the community you live in. Moving into a new home is the perfect opportunity to get to know your city and neighborhood. Even if you’ve stayed in the same area for years, it’s never too late to get involved and participate more. Luckily, there are easy ways to get involved and make a difference.
1. Donate to Local Charities
You should actively scout for charities in your area that need help. They rely mostly on the money and time individuals donate. Giving in any way you can will support local organizations now and well into the future.
2. Reach Out to Your Neighbors
How well do you know your neighbors? You may greet them when you see them outside, but hanging out with them or having them over for dinner could be nice ways to get to know them. You’ll likely feel safer and know who to call if you ever have any difficulties or worries. A strong neighborhood builds a strong community.
You can help your elderly neighbors with simple tasks. You can drive them to one of their appointments or bring their groceries inside. Doing these things fosters a sense of community and compassion.
3. Volunteer Where You’re Needed
There are plenty of places in your local area that need your help. Volunteering is one of the easiest ways to give back to the community that has given you so much. You can do so in person or from the comfort of your home.
Volunteering at an animal shelter may lead you to your new best friend. People overlook older animals far too often in favor of kittens or puppies, but they still have plenty of love to give and can be the perfect companions. You’ll be saving one life and adding to your own.
4. Promote Your City
You can use forum posts or your platforms on social media to garner attention and draw people to your city. You could also spotlight a small creator from your hometown. Supporting small businesses by enticing others to visit your town can contribute to an economic and population boom.
5. Make New Friends
It’s great to have friends that live near you. You may rely on faraway pals for many things, but you’ll want to find ones that are close to you, too. All it takes is a little reaching out.
Disconnect from social media for a while. It makes people feel entitled to see others’ lives and get immediate responses to their messages. It’s OK to take a step back and not share what you’re doing with the rest of the world. Disconnecting from your phone gives you the chance to meet new people in real life and connect with groups in your area.
6. Buy From Small Businesses
There’s no shortage of small businesses in any town. Explore your downtown area and see what shops are around. Support local companies instead of big ones whenever you can.
You can head to a local restaurant by yourself. Treat yourself to a date, and you’ll enjoy every moment of it and get some much-needed alone time. You deserve self-compassion, and what better way to spread the love than to support a small business?
7. Use Your Voice
Stand up for something you believe in that affects your community. Vote in your local elections to make a change. Sometimes, they matter more than nationwide contests. Only around 50% of eligible voters use their voices in an election. Be an active citizen in your community and get involved — and one day, you may even run for office yourself.
The only way you can make the most out of your community is by getting involved. Your level of involvement depends on how comfortable you are. You may start with getting to know your neighbors and eventually work your way up to holding an elected position. Either way, as long as you take steps to make yourself at home, your community will love you back.
Feature Image by Joel Muniz on Unsplash
