Community is a word that has seemed to change over the years. It’s a word that use to not only describe an area but it described a group of people that came together. It’s like community use to mean a helping hand. It use to mean people that know and care about each other.
Now a days it’s so easy to see the division amongst communities. It feels like we lost the true meaning of what a community truly is. We barely come together, look out for each other, and crave to hang with one another.
I think it’s safe to say we need to get back to that; get back to a place where random people are loved. We need to get back to the place where we can do nice things for the people around us, building connections, and loving on the kids.
We live in a place that’s so small yet so divided. In order to see our city in a better place. We, as in you and I, have to make a space conducive for love and togetherness. When making our community better we have to do a little more. That’s the only way to see change; for the change that needs to happen is us.
You’re probably asking yourself, “Well, what can I do to make a change?” Hang tight. I got you covered. Here’s a few suggestions I’ve found online:
Clean Up a Block
Keeping our community clean is a start. Taking a day and grabbing a few garbage bags, maybe even a small crew, can begin to make a big change to your block.
Develop a Community Project or Event
Start something fun, something that gets the community’s attention. Whether it be a cans tournament or a consistent block party. Start something that people can be a part of and bring others together.
Volunteer
There’s a special joy that comes from volunteering. Whether you choose to feed the homeless or volunteer at a school. All is well and all is needed. Be a person that spends time with the needy. A helping hand can go a long way.
Mentor Someone
If you know you have the tools to help someone, do that. If you know they want and need the help, give it to them. Mentorship’s literally work two ways. Not only is the mentor helping the mentee, the mentee can help the mentor. That’s community.
Shop Local
Support small businesses. This doesn’t have to be complicated. Just find a product or service you usually get from a Walmart or Bath n Body Works and instead get the product from a local business. Putting your dollars into their hands consistently can make a huge difference, especially if everyone chooses to do so.
Adopt a Neighbor
Truth be told, you never know what’s going on in someone’s household. You never know what barriers these kids are facing. That makes it important to show love to neighbors. Find a neighbor that you can check on, do something nice for, or simple adopt as a friend. Everyone needs those random people that always give off good energy. Be that person to somebody near.
Putting suggestions like this into play can really make our community better if we choose to. Building a community is less about the area and more about the action. If we want to see a change we have to be the change. And it IS possible. So let’s do it.
What are some things you do to make your community better?