Your money isn’t the only thing that non-profits crave – each organization relies on community participation in order to maintain its effectiveness. So, if you just can’t afford to donate money, or you want to offer even more support after you cut that check, here are some things you can do:
Donate new or used goods. Is your attic screaming “clean me”? Is that car just going to sit in the driveway? Have more canned goods than cupboard space? All of these items can be used by somebody who needs them. Instead of dealing with the headache of a garage sale, offer your goods to local charities. Many charities will come directly to your home and pick up your unwanted items, or you can utilize drop boxes that can be found all over your community. And if there is a sale at the grocery store, stock up on dog or cat food, canned goods and other non-perishable items and surprise your local people and animal shelters by giving them a day’s worth of food. Donations are a win-win situation; the items are badly needed, and you can receive tax credit for your altruism.
Offer your expertise. If your professional life overlaps a charity’s mission – think about donating some time to help them out. Become their expert – you can help teach classes, act as a spokesperson on their behalf for the media, involve your place of employment as a service provider for the charity and so on. What you do in your professional life can always help a charity – you just have to find where you can fit in to make a difference.
Become a volunteer. This by far is the most important service you can offer – your time. Call up local charities and ask what volunteer opportunities they have for individuals. Many times, you can help with the services they provide by conducting training, reading to children, cleaning out animal pens, or just offering your area of expertise. Get your whole family involved – this not only shows them how blessed they are, but it also teaches compassion, tolerance and empathy. By giving your time, you can actually see how many people the charity reaches, and the effect it has on the whole community. Without the volunteering experience, you may never realize the impact the charity has.