12 Ways to Get Involved in Your Community

Whether your community is known for its small-town feel or its close-knit communities, there are reasons why you were drawn to the area. Maybe you’re an ex-city dweller who traded urban apartments for a house in suburbia, or a country person who wanted the excitement and conveniences of the city. 

A house in the ‘burbs isn’t enough to create the sense of community that so many transplants are chasing, however. Reaping the benefits of small-town living or life in the city requires embracing your new community by getting involved and giving back. So here are some tips from Brooks County News & Stories to get you started.

Meet Your Neighbors

Start simple by getting to know your neighbors and being a good neighbor yourself.

1. One of the best ways to introduce yourself to new neighbors? Ask for advice. Whether a plumber referral or tips on the best pizza in town, this is a great strategy to break the ice.

2. Take note of neighbors who need an extra hand and make a point to reach out. Offering help to an elderly neighbor or busy parent is a small gesture with a big impact.

3. Learn about neighborhood issues and become a neighborhood advocate when you join your neighborhood association. No neighborhood association? Learn how to start one. 

Support Local Businesses

Small businesses are a big part of what gives communities their character.

4. “Shop local” is more than a feel-good measure. When you shop locally at small businesses, you support local jobs, economic growth, and community identity.

5. Finding local options takes a little more effort, but it’s worth it when you find the best local makers and shops.

6. Some transplants are capitalizing on local activity by starting or buying businesses. 

Make Your Community a Better Place

Every community has its challenges and it takes community participation to overcome them.

7. Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity to help build homes for needy families. 

8. The best way to learn about the issues facing your community is by attending town hall and city council meetings. You might even decide to join a local board or commission.

9. Use a walk score map to find the best place in town to hold a charity run for your favorite cause.

10. Support organizations doing work in the community by donating and volunteering. Your county’s United Way is the best place to find organizations in need of support. 

11. Consider contributing your skills by starting a nonprofit. Forming a nonprofit corporation gives you tax benefits and makes it easier to raise capital.

12. Residents can give their time in other ways too. Get creative with service projects like starting a little free library, organizing supply drives, or teaching community education classes. 

Being part of the local community is about more than just living there. Community involvement is what made towns and cities in the United States the vibrant places they are today, and it’s what keeps our small towns and cities a great place to live in the future. Find out what’s happening in your community and get the scoop on local events, businesses, and more.

For the latest in local goings on, visit Brooks County News & Stories today!