One the things you may hear over and over again from your parents and teachers is that you need to be involved in your community. But what does that actually mean? Are you supposed to add another crazy thing to your school, extracurricular, and work commitments? Do they really expect you to balance all of that? Fortunately, there are some ways that you can give back that don’t require you to commit to a huge project.
Serve Meals to the Needy
If there is a homeless shelter in your area, this can be a great place to volunteer a few extra hours that you may have. Many homeless shelters in the local area are always in need of an extra set of helping hands in the kitchen each week. You can assist with preparing meals and serving homeless families who will feel cared for with a warm meal that they receive. Whether you cut up vegetables or clean up after the meal is served, you can enjoy giving back to those who are less fortunate.
Donate Your Resources
One of the problems with being a teen is that you outgrow things so fast. You need new clothes every few months, especially if you hit a growth spurt. Something you needed for a project last year is now just gathering dust in a corner. You can donate all of these things and help members of your community who are in need. There are plenty of places that are looking for clothing donations, particularly for people your age, so consider going through your closet and finding all the things you no longer use and donate them.
Shop Locally
You may not be making a lot of the purchasing decisions for your family, but you still spend money on things, and you can choose where you put that money. If there are local businesses in your area, try to support them when you can. Visit the farmer’s markets to find healthy snacks and visit small boutique stores for clothing items when making purchases.
Help with Cleanup
Making your community better and helping cleanup could mean contributing to big projects, but it can also mean doing the little things. When you are walking around, if you see trash on the ground, pick it up. If you are a park and something is broken, report it to the parks department so they can get it fixed. Being conscious of your surroundings gives you an opportunity to pitch and make your community a better place without spending hours on a big project.
When you want to get involved with your community and make a difference, there are several ways to serve. With the right mindset and action taken, you can create a better place to live and will also inspire others to help.