There are times that you do the right thing, because it is the right thing - and nothing more. Sure, there are plenty of times high profile businesses and personalities will heavily publicize their support of a charity or cause, but it is clear that they are engaging in that activity because they feel there is an upside for them. The result is that it comes off as phony and disingenuous. But truly sharing your time, talents or capital to help a cause because you truly want to help pays dividends that are much more valuable than anything that can benefit your bottom line.
If you are invested in your local community, then consider how you can give back. Take some time and map out a plan for how you can invest in your local community this year. Remember, contributions don't need to be monetary. Here are four great ways to get involved:
Help the needy. While perhaps the most obvious choice, helping those who are most in need isn't always the first choice for folks wishing to get involved in their communities. Buck that trend and make helping the needy your first choice. If you're not sure where to start, look into food banks, rescue missions and local houses of worship to find out ways you can support the poor. If there doesn't seem to be an option, consider organizing a local drive to support a larger charity.
Support your local schools. No matter how well off your area might be, there is a solid chance your local schools are suffering budget cuts and are in desperate need of volunteer help. See if you can spare some time to act as a teacher's aid or perhaps help instruct in a math or reading lab. Or, get involved with your local Parent Teacher Association.
Volunteer for local events. Does your local community have a Founder's Day celebration, or perhaps put on a big festival for Independence Day? Why not look into the ways in which you can help. Perhaps you can volunteer to work an information booth or help set up or tear down the event. Consider investing your professional capabilities for the event. For instance, perhaps you could support the event by letting them piggyback promotions on your advertising.
Help your fellow professionals. With unemployment skirting 10 percent, you can be certain that there are many local professionals in your area who need your help. Find out if there are local professional development organizations that can benefit from your volunteer work, start hosting a local networking meeting or help out at a local job fair.
Remember, the key is to give back to your local community because it is the right thing to do. If you expect an immediate return on investing your time, you're going to wind up frustrated and not very helpful to those who need your support. Instead, dive in and give your all with no expectation of getting anything back. If your hard work and well-meaning effort do benefit you in the long run, you'll feel doubly gratified by your good works.
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