Communities only thrive when people are willing to look after one another. If you haven’t volunteered in your community yet, you may be wondering what opportunities there are. Fortunately, there are many opportunities to serve in your community that will suit all skills.
Take a look at how you can benefit your community by volunteering for the jobs below.
Food Bank Volunteer
Volunteering at a food bank or a soup kitchen is a very rewarding job. Not only are you able to pass on food parcels to those most in need but you’re also able to lend an ear to the situations that have forced them there. Sitting down and taking time to listen to someone in need is a great way to change your perspective on life for the better.
You may also be able to offer them additional support and advice to ensure they don’t have to come back.
Carer
The most vulnerable people in any community are often the elderly. Caring for an elderly person is another fulfilling role that involves many skills. You may be asked to prepare food, clean homes, or take an elderly person to a doctor’s appointment.
There are many live in care jobs that can be found in most communities. However, this job is not for the faint of heart. It’s easy to develop strong relationships with the people you care for and it can be hard to say goodbye when the time comes.
Support Schools
If you have children of school age, there are many ways you can volunteer to help the school. For instance, schools often have parent teams that help to fundraise for events throughout the year. In addition, you may be asked to make contributions like homemade cakes for a bake sale.
With the school’s permission, you could set up a fundraiser of your own or run a collection that would benefit the school and its future goals.
Organize a Community Party
One of the best ways to care for your community is to get to know the people in it. When you have the opportunity, think about organizing a community party. You could start off small by setting up a street party for a special occasion.
You may want to progress to using a community building and organizing an event at Easter or Christmas for families. Older members in the community may want to attend an evening of Bingo or a tea dance.
Welcome Newcomers
It isn’t easy to set up home in a new place. You may find that you have families who don’t speak English well or couples who are starting a family somewhere new. Welcome packages are a great way of making people feel like they belong in a community that’s still strange to them.
Let newcomers know what goes on in the community and where they can receive help when they really need it.
If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, there are plenty more to choose from.