Is your pet a lefty or a righty?
If you have a neighbor who needs help painting or repairing their home, get involved! They will appreciate your generosity.
Unfortunately, littering is still a blight on many communities. Volunteering to pick up trash is a great way to clean up the neighborhood.
An absolutely great way to combine artistic flair with showcasing the values of your local community, creating a mural gets many people involved.
If you are able to set up an art sale at a local event, you can use the funds raised from it to fund a good cause in your community.
If there has been local flooding, or fires, some people may have had their homes damaged or even destroyed. Help them out with some necessities.
A fantastic way of getting many people involved in something that belongs to them, a community garden can be enjoyed by everyone.
If there is a slightly dilapidated playground in your community, try and raise some money to fix it up. Or you could try fixing it yourself!
A great way to share your talents with the world is to volunteer to teach a class. You will also meet some interesting people!
In the fall, leaves can get everywhere. Volunteer to help people out by raking their yards for them. It doesn't take so long, and it's good exercise.
A petition from local residents is a good place to start. Your local government representative should listen to a reasonable request like this.
It is fantastic that people with special needs now have the opportunity to compete in entertaining events. Get involved in this rewarding activity.
Helping children with special needs on an art project is a great way to get actively involved in the community, and will also be fun!
Volunteers are often welcomed in schools. Find out which schools have special needs programs, and make a difference.
Whether it's for a school or a local community center, new books are always appreciated.
It's a very sad reality that some children have to spend a huge amount of time in hospitals. Gifts will always make their lives better.
In order to make their house more accessible, it is an act of great kindness and usefulness to build a ramp for somebody who uses a wheelchair.
The importance of reading and the written word is not to be underestimated. Volunteering to read to those who are visually impaired is great for your community.
Being able to expand your knowledge, and consequently being able to use this information to help out, is very important.
You will probably need assistance from friends and fellow volunteers to do this. But it can be done. Many people have lots of unwanted books.
Go into some details on how they need to be respected and interacted with, and distribute it within your community.
Commit to taking regular time out of your schedule to visit, call, or even write to an older person, and stick to it.
Get some friends involved! Making the effort to pick up groceries and medicine for older people will be gratefully received.
Everyone needs to eat, and not everyone is capable of getting out of their homes. If you really want to serve your community, this is one of the best ways to do it.
You will probably need a few others to make this work, but it is a kind gesture to try and arrange some entertainment for older people.
Around the time of the holidays especially, some older people can find themselves isolated. Take them gifts to remind them that they are not forgotten.
Reading is a very important and stimulating activity. People in nursing homes may well get very bored without the access to a varied and extensive library.
Some older people will not have the skills to use modern technology, but it is never too late to learn new things!
Whether it is just to have a conversation, or to find out if they need anything, a call will remind them that they are cared for.
Whether it is cleaning the house, cooking, gardening, or general maintenance, an older person will definitely appreciate your help!
Volunteers are always needed at homeless shelters. There are many different activities you can get involved with, such as serving food.
It is a terribly sad thing that some children are homeless. Help to provide some happiness in their lives by doing your part in arranging a party for them.
Whether it's a trip to the movies, the zoo, or a museum, homeless children should be able to have the same experiences as anyone else.
Books are always available, and often unwanted. It shouldn't be difficult to get a substantial amount of them to donate to a homeless shelter.
Getting people who are homeless to participate in creative activities, such as art, is a fantastic way to allow them to express themselves.
Clothes can be obtained very cheaply, and are often donated. Also, sometimes a simple repair can make a huge difference!
It is extremely important that homeless children have the most normal upbringing possible. A nursery in a homeless shelter will allow them to have a strong element of normality.
If you ever need to provide a nutritious snack for a homeless person, it's always a good idea to keep some on your person.
Animals are often abandoned, neglected, and even mistreated. Helping to return them to normality is of critical importance.
Newspapers are always useful for lining the floors in animal shelters, and consequently can lessen the cold in the winter.
This will require a lot of time and effort, but is completely worthwhile. Work out whether you or a family member of yours could do it.
Not only would this be great work experience, but helping to educate young people about animals and nature, is also highly rewarding.
Every animal deserves to be cared for and treated well. Assist in finding homes and shelters for abandoned pets as much as you can.
Donations are, of course, always happily accepted by animal shelters! Often, they need as much help as they can get.
Sometimes, people don't have the time or inclination to give their dogs the essential exercise that they need. But you can help out!
We are naturally emotional and reactive beings. Sometimes, that emotional connection is necessary to make people stop and donate.
If you are able to provide a decent home for an animal, and can commit to essentials, like taking your pet for a walk, adopt!
Get some others involved, and make sure you do a thorough job. Places of natural beauty should never be polluted with trash.
This is a great way to combine socializing, exercise, fresh air, and doing a great service for your community and surroundings!
Wherever you can, try to get hold of recycled paper. And of course, reuse paper as much as you can, and recycle it when you're done!
Not only with this save money, but it's also fun! Naturally, it is important to avoid all chemicals and pesticides, and keep it organic.
Trying to minimize your use of a car is a fantastic thing for the environment. If you can cycle to your destination, do it!
Turn off the lights, turn off the TV, and make sure that no taps are dripping. Not only will this be great for the environment, it will also save you money!
Your eyes will thank you, as will the environment. Any reduction of unnecessary power is, of course, always worthwhile.
You can include a path and various plants and trees. It is always good for children to get out of the house and away from screens.
This is certain to attract a lot of customers, and you can use all the money that you raise to help organizations that assist animals.
Getting people in the community together to learn, and eat, especially those who are in need of a meal, will do your community a great service.
An older person may find it much more comfortable to be read to, rather than to read by themselves. They may also enjoy the company!
Sadly, it isn't always possible. But where it is, always make the effort to buy recycled products, and then recycle them again!
We live in a world that can be very selfish. Many people are just looking out for themselves, and don't care about other people, animals, or the environment. Don't be one of these people! Take the time and effort to do something good and valuable, and to give back to the community you also benefit from.
Take a look through the following gallery to discover 60 ways to serve your community. Start today!
It is now well known that excessive packaging is an environmental hazard. Reduce your contribution to this wherever you can.
This doesn't need to be supremely expensive. Just the essentials for keeping clean and hygienic will be sufficient.
60 ways to serve your community
December 5 is International Volunteer Day
LIFESTYLE Local
We live in a world that can be very selfish. Many people are just looking out for themselves, and don't care about other people, animals, or the environment. Don't be one of these people! Take the time and effort to do something good and valuable, and to give back to the community you also benefit from.
Take a look through the following gallery to discover 60 ways to serve your community. Start today!