15 Ways to Give Back to the Community

When considering ways to give back to the community, many people get stuck believing they’re not enough. They think, “How am I, one person among the billions of people on the Earth, supposed to make a difference?”

We have good news: making a difference isn’t about one person doing it all. It’s about many people doing a little. Small acts of generosity and kindness go a long way in strengthening an entire community.

This article explores some of the best ways to give back to your community, even if you don’t have much income or life experience.

How to Help Your Community Financially

Donating funds to a worthy cause is one of the simplest ways to make a positive impact in your community. Let’s look at the three main ways people support their communities by making financial contributions:

1. Support Local Businesses

Small businesses struggle during times of economic hardship, but you can make an impact in your community by choosing to shop at local businesses rather than big chain stores. When you support a local business, you support a local family and put your money back into your local economy and community.

Buy fresh produce and meat from local farmers instead of national grocery stores like Walmart. Shop for new threads at a locally-owned clothing boutique instead of Old Navy, or trust your vehicle’s next oil change to a family-owned mechanic’s shop.

2. Donate to a Food Bank

Food banks and food pantries play an essential role in helping struggling families keep food on their tables. Making food donations is one of the best ways to give back to the community. People of all ages suffer from food insecurity, but you can help by donating your extra cash, cans, and boxes of food to a local food pantry.

Perhaps you’ll donate money to your local food bank, buy two extra cans of food for the food pantry every time you visit the grocery store, or host a food drive at your university and donate the collections. However you decide to donate, you can be proud of knowing you helped somebody feed their family.

3. Donate to a Local Charity

Research your community’s charitable organizations and nonprofits to donate funds to a worthy cause. Perhaps you’ll regularly donate to your local children’s hospital or write a one-time check to a local homeless shelter. Whatever local charity you decide to contribute to, you’re sure to make a difference in the lives of others.

Some examples of local charities in the Los Angeles area include:

• Heal the Bay
• LA Animal Rescue
• Elizabeth House
• First Place for Youth

How Can I Give Back to the Community Without Money?

Many people don’t believe they can make a difference because they don’t have any extra income, but donating cash is not the only way to make a difference in the lives of your fellow community members. Let’s look at eight ways to give back to your local community that don’t involve donating money.

4. Donate Blood

According to the American Red Cross, patients in the United States require blood transfusions every two seconds, and the required blood cannot be manufactured. By donating blood at a blood drive or donation center, you may help save the life of someone in your community suffering from physical trauma, burns, cancer, sickle cell disease, and other chronic diseases.

Depending on where and how you donate, you may even make some cash for your blood donation.

5. Explore Local Volunteer Opportunities

If you’re unsure where to start looking for ways to give back to the community, many local charities and organizations in your community would likely appreciate a new volunteer. Places like nursing homes, soup kitchens, and other local organizations often ask for volunteers to help as many people in need as possible.

Donate your time to a local senior center, volunteer with a local animal shelter, or offer an extra pair of hands to a local soup kitchen. Even choosing one volunteer day per month can make a big difference for a local organization near you.

6. Host a Fundraiser

You don’t need money to contribute financially to a local charity or cause. By organizing a fundraiser, you can raise funds for your favorite local charity or organization without having to directly contribute.

Fundraising events range from small to massive. You might gather hundreds of friends, family, and other community members for a local fundraiser walk for medical research, or you may host a small bake sale or yard sale to raise funds for a local school. In many cases, you can raise awareness for a worthy cause while also raising funds.

7. Plant a Tree

We can’t overstate the importance of trees. They provide oxygen, homes for wildlife, and protection against erosion, which contributes to natural threats like landslides and floods. They also help reduce the effects of climate change.

You can help protect the future of your community by joining a tree-planting effort nearby or simply planting a new tree on your property.

8. Donate Your Old Stuff

Some of the best donations for organizations like homeless shelters may come from the back of your closet. Instead of stashing away the gently-used clothing you never wear, give it to a family in need or take it to your local shelter.

Look around your home for unused or gently used items that might make a difference for someone in your community. Other items you might decide to donate include:

• Shoes
• Jackets and coats
• Backpacks
• Blankets
• Books
• Toys
• School supplies
• Art supplies
• Tools

9. Join or Start a Community Garden

Put your green thumb to work by joining or creating a community garden. You can find examples of community gardens in a wide range of places, including community centers, housing complexes and developments, parks, and even vacant lots.

These gardens help families in those communities reduce food insecurity and encourage healthy eating habits. They also present excellent learning opportunities for children and adults alike who want to learn how to grow their own produce.

10. Organize a Community Clean-Up

Does litter or an overgrowth of weeds keep you from enjoying your local park or another community space? Perhaps you notice excessive trash along the same stretch of road on your way to work every day.

Not only does litter affect a neighborhood’s appearance, but it also poses health threats to the people and pets living there. Bring your friends, family members, and neighbors together for a community clean-up.

11. Organize a Community Clean-Up

Do you have a cause you care about deeply but can’t find any way to contribute to it given your financial or time situation? The best thing you can do is tell others about your cause and why they should support it.

Ultimately, no charity or organization can succeed without the help of volunteers and donors. Even if your social media presence is minimal, you never know who may see what you say and decide to donate even a little bit of their time or money. If you don’t use social media, simply tell your friends in real life! Every little bit of publicity helps, and you never know who might hear about your cause while in a position to make a huge difference.

12. Help a Friend or Neighbor

Does your elderly neighbor struggle to pull weeds or mow the lawn due to age or a disability? Is your friend busy with work or a new baby in the house?

By volunteering to help with household chores like cooking, cleaning, laundry, yard work, or even helping to move a large piece of furniture, you can significantly improve the lives of others.

How Can I Help My Community if I’m a Kid?

You don’t have to be an adult to find ways to give back to the community. Even a young person can make a huge impact. Let’s look at a few ways you can help your neighborhood regardless of your age:

13. Use Recycling Bins

You can do your part to reduce pollution and protect the Earth’s natural environment by using recycling bins instead of throwing paper, plastic, and glass in the trash. Ask a family member to teach you recycling best practices, and keep them in mind, whether at home or school.

14. Donate Old Clothing and Toys

If you’re a kid, you’ve probably noticed that you grow out of your clothes in about six months and need bigger versions. Why not donate your old clothing to a local homeless shelter or family in need?

Do you have any old toys taking up space in your bedroom or playroom? You can make room for new stuff by donating the old toys you no longer enjoy.

If you struggle to get rid of certain items because of sentimental value, try taking a photo of them before donating them. That way, someone else can benefit from your old stuff, but you get to keep the memories.

15. Spread Kindness and Joy

Sometimes, it’s too easy to fall into the gossip trap. Next time you catch yourself spreading a rumor or focusing on the negative things in life, try to spread joy and kindness instead. One random act of service can improve somebody’s entire day.

What creative ways can you think of to spread joy and kindness around your community? Perhaps you’ll try to give five compliments every day, volunteer to help a friend clean their room, or just pick up that empty plastic candy wrapper on the playground.

Why Should We Give Back to the Community?

When we volunteer in our communities, we remember that we’re in this together. Life is not a solo venture — it’s a collaborative one. People accomplish more when they support each other and offer each other kindness and goodwill.

When you volunteer to help clean up local parks, spend your time supporting senior citizens at your local nursing home, or simply donate the stuff you don’t need to somebody who does, you’re working to hold people up. In a world where many people feel constantly torn down, seemingly small acts can really make a difference.

By supporting our neighbors, we do our part to build a strong community where everyone has enough to eat, a safe place to sleep, and a positive outlook for what tomorrow may bring.

Schedule Your Orange County Donation Pickup

Schedule a pickup with Easy Donation Pickup today if you’re ready to donate your unwanted clothing, books, tools, or other household items. We’re a donation service in Los Angeles and Orange County brought to you by the National Veterans Foundation, an agency dedicated to providing essential outreach to veterans and their families. You can help us provide struggling veterans with clothing, food, and other necessities by donating your unneeded items today.

Do you have questions about our donation pickup services? Visit this page to learn how our process works, or contact us through our online form or by calling 1-855-628-8387. You can also visit our frequently asked questions page or our blog to learn more ways to give back to the community.