5 Ways to Make Your Community Better

Communities are created and nourished by people just like you because the heart of a community is the individuals and families who live within them.

Of course, there are also businesses within your community and municipal governments that provide facilities and services that help make your community special, such as parks, libraries, schools, pools, churches, sporting fields, hiking trails, bike paths, and everything else your family enjoys using.

And, more than likely, your community also has shelters and centers for those who may be in need or may not be as fortunate as you and your family.

With the busy lives we lead today, it’s not always easy to remember to think about community as anything more than being there when we want to use it.

But, the fact is, some communities are better than others because the families who live in those communities make a difference by making sure they give some of their time and energy to make it better.

As you think about giving during this time of year, think about what you and your family can gift to make your community better. The following are ideas to get you thinking about where you can give to make your community really be the place you love to live.

Next time you sit down for a family meal, or you schedule a family meeting, begin a conversation about the things you like in your community. It could be the park, the pool, the baseball field, or just about anything.

As you go around to each member of your family, talk about “the wish list” of what you wish could be better. An example in our community is that we wish the high school outdoor tennis and basketball courts were in better shape and we had better resources for those who might not have enough money to buy the food they need.

Write down your family’s “Community Wish List” and put it in a place where everyone in your family can see it. In our house, that would be the whiteboard on our refrigerator that includes the calendar for the month and a list of things important to us. 

Take an item from your family’s “Community Wish List” and figure out what would need to happen to make the wish list item a reality. Then share your thoughts with your family.

For me, the local outdoor tennis and basketball courts need real attention, so we started a community group to clean them up and resurface them.

We contacted the local school district, worked together to develop a plan, and are now in the process of reworking the surface and are about to put down new paint. It’s a community effort that everyone will enjoy.

A couple weeks ago, we received a great photo showing one of our young grandchildren who took food to a food donation site. It was his first personal act of giving back to his community. It was also a great learning opportunity.

As a parent, you can find out what your local food pantry may need by just stopping by and asking them. You can search for one in your area using the Feeding America website. The website covers most major cities.

With that information, sit down with your child and let them know that you will take them to the store, have them pick out some needed things, have them take the cart to the store checkout, and hand them the money they will need to pay for the items, and then take them to the food donation site to deliver the food.

This is a great way to teach your young child about the importance of giving to help those in need AND learn how to shop for needed items.

Every elementary, middle, and high school needs teens and young adults to help tutor other students. As we all know, education opens doors and provides opportunities for life!

You and your teen can go to the school guidance counselor’s office to see what opportunities there might be and line up a time to tutor. The good news for your teen is that parents are usually willing to pay teens and young adults to tutor their children.

The number of opportunities to engage in your community are almost endless, and sometimes it makes sense to narrow the options down with a web search.

If you type “volunteer” along with your city and state in your search engine, you’ll typically find two websites: Americantowns.com and VolunteerMatch.org. They both have ways to narrow your search with specific filters, including for kids and teens. They are both good idea generators to get your mind thinking about opportunities for your kids.

Help your children learn that they can make a difference. It starts with a discussion that leads to actions that lead to them seeing the difference they can make in their community and the lives of others and ends when you make your community better.