It is imperative that everyone does their bit to help those who are most in need, be it in your local community or in the wider world. The truth is that many of us have the intention of trying to help, but never get around to it. I was most certainly guilty of this in the past and so a couple of years ago I began to make a concerted effort to dedicate more of my time to volunteering and to helping those in need. If you can’t afford to give money to a cause then you can always give up some of your time, and here are some ways in which you can do just that.
Fundraising
Local and global charities rely on the donations of people to keep doing the good work which they do. In order to get this money they rely on fundraisers to meet people on the street, knock on doors and make pone calls to inspire people to donate. This was where I started, working with the American Fundraising Foundation to drum up support and donations. There are so many charities which you can do this for so pick which cause you wish to support and get started.
Charity Stores
Another way in which charities look to make money is through their retail stores, accepting products as donations which they can then sell on to make money for their cause. Naturally they rely on volunteers to run these stores which is where you come in. No matter how much time you have to spend, be it a few hours one afternoon or an entire day once a week, these stores will be grateful for what you can do for them, and you can help them to continue to make money for their helpful causes.
Local Projects
A friend of mine runs a boxing gym which works with the youngsters in our community to teach them how to channel the aggression which they may have, and to help instill discipline, respect and values. I do not have any skills when it comes to boxing but I do have a pair of hands and I wanted to help. I now clean up, make drinks, carry equipment and just about anything else that they need. If you know of a community-based project in your area then you can speak to those who operate it and offer your support. These men and women run these projects out of the goodness of their hearts and they will bite your hand off for any support which you are able to offer them.
One on One
If you can’t commit to supporting a project or a charity then you can always support the most vulnerable in the community. I have a friend who spends an afternoon every week with an elderly lady who has nobody else who visits her. Loneliness is hard on the elderly, and with a little bit of your time you can really put a smile on their face.
The key is to make the time and spend it doing something that helps.
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