Getting and staying involved in your local community has many benefits. Your community is a greater extension of your home, your place in the world where you have a sense of belonging and connection. Taking part in activities and events in your community has both tangible and intangible benefits. You can be part of grassroots efforts to improve quality of life for yourself and other community members. You can make great friendships and have a more fulfilling life. The benefits are innumerable when you get involved with your community. Here are some ways you can participate.
- Volunteer
A UnitedHealthcare study found that people who volunteered felt better mentally, emotionally, and physically. They also felt deeper connections to their communities. Volunteering in your community is a way to make positive changes for both the community and you. There are many options and you can find a cause that is meaningful to you. Try websites like VolunteerMatch or Idealist to search for local volunteer opportunities. You should be able to find many various causes, from soup kitchens to pet care volunteer services.
- Join or support a local sports team
You may happen to live in an area that has a major league baseball or professional football team. But if you want to get really involved with the local sports scene, look for youth league sports, high school teams, and minor league sports. Your support of these local teams means a great deal to the players. You could also join team sports organized by your local community center or gym. It’s a great way to get involved and build your teamwork skills, as well as staying physically fit.
- Attend classes; teach classes.
It’s never too late to learn something new. Look for lectures to attend offered at your library or local college. Take an arts and crafts class at a continuing education center. You could even think about sharing your skills and expertise and look into becoming a teacher. Organizations such as community and adult education centers are often looking for teachers. There is no better way to get involved than by sharing your knowledge. If you don’t see a class you could teach, you can sometimes propose a new class for your subject or interest matter. At these classes, you’re likely to meet like-minded people who share the same interests as you.
- Walk or run in a local race
It’s very common now to see run/walk races being organized by local societies and groups. Sometimes race events are to celebrate the beginning of the season, like a 5K Turkey Run and other times it’s to fundraise for a good cause, such as cancer awareness. Sign up to jog, run, or walk in a few of these races a year. Not only will they help you stay involved, but preparing for these races will help you stay on top of your fitness goals.
- Join a Community Emergency Response Team
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), or sometimes Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams (NERT), are teams of volunteers trained by a local agency, such as a police or fire department, in basic disaster skills. CERT members also agree to supplement existing first responders in the event of a major disaster. CERT members participate in raising funds for emergency response equipment in their community and provide first-aid, crowd control, or other services at community events. The mission of CERT is to enhance preparedness, save lives, and protect property in the event of any major disasters. Being a trained CERT member for your community could be a great way to stay involved.
From staying fit to solving a problem for the community, being involved in different community activities is good for the mind, body, and soul. The wonderful thing is you can search for whatever you are looking for by simply typing in specific words into a search engine. For example, type in “senior activities near me” and you will see numerous websites offering such activities nearby. Something as simple as shopping at your local farmer’s market or more involved such as training to becoming a Community Emergency responder could lead to a more satisfying life and a better community.
