10 Ways to Give Back to Our Local Community This Holiday Season

 This year has demonstrated, perhaps more than ever, the importance of our family, friends, neighbors, and community. And with the holidays right around the corner, December offers the perfect opportunity to give back to the place we call home. 

Let these 10 ways, both big and small, inspire you to do good in your town. 

GIVE BACK NEAR HOME

1. Attract local wildlife. By making your neighborhood more wildlife friendly, you’re helping to create a balanced and healthy ecosystem. Plus, many of the animals you can attract help with pest control and pollination. [1]

Ideas:

●     Create a rain garden to attract wildlife and filter out local pollutants.

●     Use native plants to provide food and shelter for birds, bees, and butterflies.

 2. Clean up our community. Besides beautifying the area, picking up trash keeps it out of our local waterways, which means a cleaner water supply for all of us.

 Ideas:

●     Pick up trash in your neighborhood, at a local park, or elsewhere in our community.

●     Clean your home’s driveway and sidewalks, where water runoff can carry debris into the local sewer system. [2]

 3. Organize or join a neighborhood watch. According to a recent report, neighborhoods with Neighborhood Crime Watch programs experience roughly 16 percent less crime. [3] Keeping an eye out for each other instills a sense of safety and security in your neighborhood.

Ideas:

●     Join or launch a neighborhood watch program.

●     Share crime information via a neighborhood Facebook group or apps like NextDoor.

 HELP OUT LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

 4. Boost your civic engagement. Get more involved as a citizen to make a positive difference in our community.  

Ideas:

●     Sign a petition to make needed community changes.

●     Attend community meetings to understand (and have a voice in) local issues. [4].

 5. Support local businesses. Because the pandemic has negatively impacted many businesses, help keep money in our community’s economy by shopping local.

Ideas:

●     Look for unique gifts (like handcrafted soaps or small-batch wines) from the small businesses that dot our community.

●     Purchase tickets to attend live-streamed holiday concerts and shows.

 6. Donate to local charities. Nonprofits could always use your financial support, so consider making a monetary donation to help them carry out their mission. Then think beyond just donating dollars.

Ideas:

●     Donate new or used books to our community library.

●     Pick out toys to give to a charity that caters to families. [5]

 CARE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS

 7. Organize a holiday food drive. This year, in particular, people are struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table.  

Ideas:

●     Round up a few friends or coworkers to collect groceries to donate.

●     Partner with a local food bank, soup kitchen, nonprofit, or community organization that feeds people in need.

8. Adopt a family or an individual. The holidays can be a financial struggle for some families. Make a difference by “adopting” a family (or even just one child) to help make their holiday special.

 Ideas:

●     If you know a needy family, help them buy a Christmas tree, presents for their children, or turkey for a holiday meal.

●     If not, ask a community group for the name of a family or individual in need.

9. Volunteer. Depending on your schedule and your preferences, you might be able to volunteer in-person or from home, whether it’s a one-time effort or ongoing project.  

Ideas:

●     Give your time to a cause that really matters to you, such as your local animal rescue organization or mental health awareness group. [6]

●     Tap into a skill you already have (like creating videos) or learn a new skill (like fundraising) to benefit your cause of choice.

 10. Perform random acts of kindness. You can make a big difference one small act at a time.

Ideas:

●     Rake leaves for an elderly neighbor.

●     Thank your child’s teacher for all their hard work this year.    

 HOW WE CAN HELP YOU? 

As a native Charlottean & a trusted 20-year Real Estate Professional in our local community, I'm tuned into the unique needs of the place we all call home. Reach out to us today to discuss more ways to make a positive impact in our community—this holiday season and beyond. And we want to make sure you’re taken care of, too. If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home now or in the near future, let us help you! Experience Matters!

Sources:

1.     Redfin -

https://www.redfin.com/blog/attract-wildlife-to-your-backyard/#:~:text=Sow%20plants%20that%20provide%20essentials,these%20alternate%20natural%20food%20sources

2.     The Groundwater Foundation -

https://www.groundwater.org/action/home/raingardens.html

3.     The Globe and Mail -

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/home-and-garden/how-neighbours-and-online-maps-can-help-deter-break-ins/article34886427/

4.     Parade -

https://parade.com/1083640/stephanieosmanski/what-is-civic-engagement/

5.     MentalFloss -

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/88663/15-ways-give-back-holiday-season

6.     Together We Rise -

https://www.togetherwerise.org/blog/7-ways-give-back-community/