Making a Difference in Your Community
In today's technological society, it can be hard to connect with others in your community. But there are many good reasons to make the effort. Volunteer work enriches your life and forms friendships with people you would not normally have the opportunity to meet. It sets a good example for those around you, and can hone skills that benefit you on the job, such as creative thinking and teamwork. And who knows, somewhere along the line you may need help and have to turn to those in the community, and you'll feel a lot better about it if you have helped people out in the past—think of it as “goodwill credit.” Here are a few tips for making a difference in your community and reaping the intangible yet valuable rewards for doing so.
Stay connected. Opportunities to make a difference in your community are more common than you might think, but you have to be aware of them. If you go to church regularly, you will see some, but don't stop there! Anywhere that people congregate, including schools and community centers, is a good place to look for volunteer opportunities or places to make charitable donations. Also some national organizations, such as the Red Cross, most likely have chapters in your area.
If you want to give to charity, do your homework. Volunteering is always the best way to directly make a difference in your community, but since time is often scarce; donations are a good way to do so as well. Of course, there are many worthy causes that are in need of donations. Organizations helping the hungry in your region, or those who have lost their homes due to fires or floods, are a good place to start, and all your donations go towards helping people in your area.
If you want to go the volunteer route, begin by identifying what you have that no one else does. Making a difference in a satisfying way is almost like applying for a job—it requires critical thinking to identify your most useful skills. Do you work in management? You can transfer these skills to community tutoring. Are you skilled at solving technology problems, someone who people turn to in your workplace? There might be a place for you, helping to keep up a volunteer community's website, or spreading technological skills to the underprivileged. If you don't have a clear idea, you can start out doing “generic” tasks (such as volunteering to work at a local polling place), but keep an eye out for places where your talents can help the community the most.
In a quickly-globalizing world, remember that you can always disconnect and re-examine your life. Don't be afraid, and go for it! You'd be surprised at how empowered it makes you feel to make a difference in your community.
