Everyday Ways To Give Back To The Community
Teaching our children is a great way to start.
Giving back to the community can be enriching for both the giver and the receiver. But before someone can “give back to their community” they have to decide what community they belong to. Many of us live in one location and work in another, and what we consider our “community” can vary from person to person.
As a homeowner, I consider myself a part of the East Brunswick community, and there are things I do every day to help make my community a better place. I support our local library and donate to the local food bank. I have volunteered at our local schools when chaperones or coaches were needed, and I have attended city council meetings in an effort to keep up on developments in our community.
However, some people don’t consider the town or city where they live to be their community. Many of my friends and colleagues spend most of their time at work, sometimes spending up to ¾ of their time away from their homes. To these people, their community is often their workplace or the areas around their workplace, as opposed to the location of their home.
One friend volunteers at a community food bank, but in New York City, not in New Brunswick where his condo is located. Another friend is a member of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Organization and spends a lot of her free time in Yonkers, New York hanging out with her Little Sister. This friend told me that the upscale neighborhood where her house is located doesn’t need her help with much of anything and she gets a lot of satisfaction tutoring her Little Sister and doing all she can to help her succeed in life.
In many ways, giving back to the community is a virtuous cycle. It helps to provide a sense of meaning beyond oneself and provides value to one’s community at large.
Furthermore, as the world has become more globalized and what happens in China or the United States affects everyone on the globe, we need to consider the entire planet our “community.” No act is too small to affect change. One way I’ve done this is by reducing my carbon footprint through the early adoption of energy-efficient lights and appliances, buying automobiles that get the best gas mileage possible, installing solar panels on my roof that feed power back into the grid, and donating solar panels to the city for use on a sporting facility in town that is being renovated. Recycling and buying recycled and recyclable products, and upcycling existing products are other ways we can give back to the greater community.
With advances in technology, it has never been easier to get involved in community outreach in areas that may be outside one’s immediate geography. Finding causes which one is passionate about — whether it be helping to increase access to food or mentoring youths — is the first step.
Finally, it is important to teach our children of the interconnected nature of the world and to teach good habits, by being both a good role model and a good citizen. Giving back can be as simple as starting at home and setting a good example for our children.
There are many ways we can give back to our community, both locally and globally. An action that is seemingly small such as swapping out appliances for those that are energy efficient is a perfect example of a local action that can impact global carbon emissions. No effort to give back is too small. Identifying one’s community, seeking out simple ways to contribute, and instilling the values of community service in our children can all make a difference.
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This article was previously published on James Goydos’ website.
About James Goydos, M.D.
James Goydos is an expert in melanoma research and specialist in surgical oncology with an M.D. from Rutgers University. With over 20 years of experience as a Professor, Surgeon, and Clinical Trial Lead, he is a leading expert in his field.
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