This October 25th is “Make a Difference Day!” Here on Long Island there are lots of different ways to give back to the community and help those in need. Whether you choose to donate clothing, money, food, or your own time, each way you can give back helps. You can join a not-for-profit organization, participate in a benefit or fundraiser or even help out at a local charity function.
If you’re looking to help out a specific area/cause that you are passionate about, but are unsure of where to go or who to contact, try searching on VolunteerMatch. They connect people with causes in their area and allow users to specify causes, like environment, LGBT, animals, etc., while searching for open opportunities.
Here are a few different ways you can give back and show that you care:
- Go through your closet and donate clothes you no longer need or wear to Goodwill. Jackets and coats will be especially needed with the colder months approaching.
- Visit a haunted house this year that has proceeds going to charity! Some of them also collect non-perishable food items which they will then donate for you.
- Lend a hand at a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter.
- Clean up your area! Get a group together and pick a local beach, park, or street and clean up all of the trash on the ground to help get rid of pollution and beautify your area!
- Create your own fundraiser! If there’s something you are very passionate about, but don’t see other organizations working towards, don’t wait for them to get a clue, create it on your own!
- Plant a tree! If you plant a tree now, before the ground freezes, by early Spring you’ll be able to see the buds of a fully flourishing tree opening up.
- Volunteer to tutor kids after school who need a little extra help with their studies.
- Check with your local animal shelter to see what supplies they are most in need of and the next time you go to the grocery store to pick up supplies for yourself, pick up some supplies for them!
- Send a care package to one of the many U.S. troops fighting overseas. Brighten up their day and let them know how much you appreciate their sacrifice.
- Volunteer and go through the training to be a counselor for a suicide hotline.
Remember, it doesn’t have to be “Make a Difference Day” to do something kind and generous, but it is a good reminder to everyone to be charitable and give back when they can to help out those in need.
Photo by Marco Michelini via Free Images