Our entire company is built on the idea of making a difference in the lives of others—it is what drives us to do what we do every single day. So, in honor of National Philanthropy Day (Nov 15), we wanted to share 5 ways you can be on the frontline of good in our community.
Teach a Child
Contact your local community center, library or school to inquire about volunteer tutoring opportunities. If you live in the Brooklyn area, checkout READ 718, a non-profit literacy center that provides after school tutoring and literacy workshops to low-income students in grades 4-8. Opening in January 2015, the center is currently looking for literacy tutors.
Serve a Meal to Others
While we automatically think serving food is the most important part of working in a soup kitchen, it is really about serving up dignity and respect for others. Places such as the Holy Apostle Soup Kitchen in New York have volunteer opportunities for food servers, guest greeters, table cleaners and even for folks to pass out haircut vouchers. You can sign up as an individual or grab a group and spend time giving back to your community while learning more about homelessness and hunger in your community.
Keep Your City Beautiful
Check with your city to see if there are any community-wide clean up days, organize your neighbors to create a community garden or take time to spruce up your own outdoor space. In New York, MillionTreesNYC provides free trees to property owners and gives you the opportunity to help plant trees in and around city parks.
Share Your Talent
Whether it is your smooth guitar licks or your ability to write a great story, sharing your talent with others is a great way to make a difference in the lives of your community neighbors. Seek out organizations and associations that offer classes and workshops such as the Jewish Association Serving the Aging (JASA) which is currently looking for a volunteer to lead a knitting/crocheting class in Brooklyn.
Prepare for an Emergency
As noted during Hurricane Irene and Super Storm Sandy, you can never be too prepared for an emergency. Work with local organizations to prepare emergency kits for others, get trained in CPR or use your knowledge (tax preparation, law, etc.) to provide assistance for those who are struggling to rebuild and recover from natural disasters. Visit NYCService.org to find volunteer opportunities.
Talk to us: How do you celebrate philanthropy?
image courtesy of flickr/BY CC 2.0