29 Ways to Help Your Community on February 29th!
Every four years, our calendar gives us one extra day. Why not use that extra day to help your community? Here are 29 ideas to get you started.
1. Help cook and/or serve a meal at a homeless shelter.
2. Create a campaign to encourage walking or biking.
3. Host a potluck and get to know your neighbors.
4. Visit senior citizens at a nursing home.
5. Turn off the TV, and read a book with your children.
6. Teach a senior citizen how to use a computer.
7. Organize a canned food drive.
8. Bring toys to children in the cancer ward of a hospital.
9. Contact your local representative about key issues plaguing our community.
10. Register people to vote.
11. Gather clothing to donate to a local shelter.
12. Visit www.volunteermclean.org for opportunities to serve.
13. If it snows, shovel your neighbors drive.
14. Send a card to one of America’s veterans or overseas soldiers.
15. Sign up for a 5K run/walk supporting a local charity.
16. Hold a door open for someone.
17. Clean up your neighborhood. Go for a walk and bring a plastic bag!
18. Give blood.
19. Volunteer at 2-1-1, a volunteer run hotline supporting those in need of assistance.
20. Write a letter to the editor about an issue you care about.
21. Shop at local, family-owned businesses.
22. Get CPR and First Aid certified.
23. Volunteer at a local food pantry.
24. Hold a suitcase drive for foster children.
25. Donate money to United Way of McLean County.
26. Coordinate a book drive.
27. Bake cookies and bring them to your local fire or police department.
28. Register to participate in McLean County Cares, a day of community service, by visiting www.volunteermclean.org.
29. Introduce yourself to a neighbor you do not know.
Give an hour. Give a Saturday. Give your Best. We all have special talents. Things we can do to help. And when we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all. Whether it’s reading to children or leading financial literacy classes for hard-working families or delivery meals to homebound seniors, there are hundreds of volunteer options available every day.
Give the gift of you. Volunteer.