Volunteering in Your Community

Most people you ask will say they'd love to volunteer, but they don't have the time or schedule consistency for an ongoing volunteer commitment. They're afraid of saying yes and not being able to follow through. A fair reason for not joining a volunteer group or signing up to help out at your local charity, but there are volunteer opportunities you can take advantage of without making a long-term commitment. Here are some excellent ideas for getting involved in the betterment of your community if you don't have a lot of time or consistency in your schedule.

1. Seasonal and Holiday opportunities: When buying school supplies for your kids participate in the back-to-school programs where you buy supplies for a student in need. The winter holidays offer many ways to get involved from volunteering at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, delivering food to the elderly on holidays or putting together a set of gifts for a less fortunate family or child. Pick up a few extra gifts while you’re already out shopping for your family. Participate in your community Easter egg hunt by providing candies or helping hide eggs in the local park. 
2. Annual opportunities: You can start small by finding one volunteer opportunity per season. Does your church or local community center host an annual neighborhood-wide yard sale? Do you have one Saturday to offer your services at a fun run or marathon? You don't have to do the running; you can help run a water booth or hand out informational materials for a charity in which you believe to event attendees. Volunteer to work at your local polling place on election day, it’s just a day! You can commit your time to only one day or one weekend and plan to help out.
3. One time, anytime: If you can't think of any single activity that you can do, try opening your mind and heart to spontaneously contributing "in the moment." Share your to-go food with a hungry person, bring soup over to a sick neighbor, offer to mow the lawn, rake leaves, or wash the car for a senior in your community. Say yes when the grocery clerk asks if you'd like to donate a dollar or two to a local charity. Buy candy bars or cookies from your local children’s groups and share them around your office.

The least complicated way to contribute is by making small monetary donations or engaging in one-time commitment-free acts of kindness and community support. If you want to get involved in volunteer and charitable opportunities in your neighborhood you absolutely can, anytime. Don’t let the fear of commitment get in the way of you making a difference in your community. 

If you're seeking a new home, and volunteer opportunities are essential to you in your new neighborhood share that desire with your real estate agent, so they can help you find a community with active engagement opportunities.