How involved are you and your family in your community? Are you aware of the attributes in area and do you utilize the resources or amenities that are available? Many people don’t realize how much even the smallest community has to offer. It may be as simple as a great family owned restaurant that features home cooking and Mom’s secret recipe dessert, or it may be something historic such as landmark buildings or a museum.
We should also ask ourselves what we have to offer our communities. Can we volunteer our time or donate items to a good cause? Many communities have a food bank or a clothing room that gives necessary items to those in need. Perhaps instead of having that garage sale, we might donate clothing to those who have little of it.
Many communities also sponsor food drives, coat drives, and various other functions to collect goods to distribute to less fortunate families.
There are also other beneficial services for which all members of the community may be eligible, such as safety courses, fire prevention or how to make a family emergency plan, self-defense, or various other important programs. These are great opportunities not only for us to learn something but also to volunteer and share our expertise in certain fields, if there is a corresponding service.
Clean up programs are also popular. You’ve likely seen the adopt a highway signs where the scouts or a church is responsible for so many miles of road. These groups come out every so often to clean up trash and report conditions if repair or other attention is needed.
There are crisis pregnancy centers, groups that visit folks in nursing homes, civic centers that need an extra pair of hands, and more.
If you’d like to get more involved in your community, consider contacting the area Chamber of Commerce.