Looking for ways to help your community without breaking the bank? There are plenty of options to make an impact without financial donations. We understand not everyone has the money to donate but don’t let money stop you from making a difference in Wayne and Union Counties. One of the easiest ways to affect the lives of local residents and children is to donate your time. So, if you’re looking for ways to improve someone’s life, without digging into your savings, we’ve got the list for you. During this season of giving, it is time to take charge and volunteer throughout our local communities.
Ways To Help Your Community
- Visit a Local Food Pantry – a variety of local pantries need help stocking shelves and distributing food to those in need. Learn more about food insecurity and get a list of local pantries by reading our blog Food Insecurity In Wayne and Union Counties.
- Clean Up a Park – there is at least one park in every community in Wayne and Union Counties; check with the local parks department about volunteering to clean up the parks after this winter. If your local park doesn’t have an organized day to clean up, offer to coordinate one.
- Join a Nonprofit Board – serving on a nonprofit board can be life-changing for you and the people the organization serves. Many local nonprofits need new board members ready to roll up their sleeves to do great work. You can contact us about joining our board at 765-962-2700, check out some of our program partners or visit the Wayne County Foundation’s nonprofit database.
- Serve Seniors in Your Community – interested in connecting with our local seniors? Volunteering at a local Senior Center is a wonderful opportunity to serve our most vulnerable population. Most communities in Wayne and Union Counties have a Senior Center, so you don’t have to go far to connect with a senior near you.
- Mentor a Child or Teen – as Maya Angelou says, “when you know better, you do better.” Mentoring kids and teens are the ideal way to change a single person’s life. By mentoring, you are teaching someone a new way to think about themselves and their future. Contact Girls Inc. or Boys and Girls Clubs, Future Achievers, or Communities In Schools to get started.
- Share Your Talents – it’s easy to assume that your gift or talent, like sewing, is everyone’s gift or talent. Nothing can be further from the truth. Whatever skill you have, crafting, project managing, writing, art, or building things, some organization some where needs your gift. We encourage you to share your talents! Start by contacting us. We can help you find the organization that needs your gift or talent. Call us at 765-962-2700 or through our website contact us page.
- Coach a Team – what’s more fun than watching 4 years old learn to play t-ball or kick a soccer ball? Not much. Our local YMCA and sports leagues always need loving and patient coaches. So, what if you’re not an expert at playing t-ball? That’s OK! These kids don’t need John Wooden; they need local people teaching them how to be better team players and the art of having fun.
- Organize a Blood Drive – one person can help save hundreds of lives by hosting a blood drive. Learn more about giving blood or hosting a blood drive by visiting the Red Cross.
- Help Out at the Library – reading stimulates children’s imagination and expands their world understanding. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand written words. Contact your local library to learn how to volunteer to read to local children.
- Volunteer At The Local School – there is a massive teacher shortage and a budget shortfall at our local schools. Giving time to one of our local schools helps our current teaching staff, school administrators, parents, and of course, the children. Now is the perfect time to give back to the organizations preparing our next generation.
Help Improve Wayne and Union Counties
Our list of 10 ways to help your community is just the start. There are many ways to help our local communities that we didn’t get to list. It’s been rough the last few years. The needs can feel endless. However, don’t get overwhelmed by the need. Instead, choose something meaningful to you. For example, if you enjoy helping seniors start at the local senior center. If children are your passion, volunteer with an organization that focuses on helping our youth. So, maybe the needs are endless but so are the opportunities to serve. We encourage you to make next year the year you give back to our local communities through volunteering.
Learn More About United Way of Whitewater Valley
Now that you know more about the 10 ways to help your community, you may think, I don’t have the time, but I do have the money to help. Great! Then join us in our fight for the health, education, and financial stability of everyone in Wayne and Union counties by donating today. There is a lot of work to be done, so we need your help to make positive changes in our community.
Get to know more about our program partners working in our four focus areas: childhood success, youth success, economic mobility, and access to health. Read more about their stories here, or sign up for our newsletter to learn more about what we do at United Way of Whitewater Valley.
