During these tough times, having a good community surrounding you is more important than ever. However, sometimes it takes putting in some work to make our area better and a nicer place to live. While it will look different for everyone, there’s something everyone can do to improve the area they call home or community investing.
This can be especially important when trying to teach kids to be generous and what effects there are by giving back. Not only does your family benefit from seeing you take action to make a difference, but you also benefit by being able to watch your children follow in your footsteps.
What is Community Investing?
Community investing looks different for everyone. The idea of investing as a whole is to contribute to a cause with the goal of earning a return. You may have heard the terms “stock investing” or “bond investing”. It’s very similar. The difference lies in what you choose to invest in. Rather than contributing to a stock or bond, you contribute something to a local organization.
COMMUNITY INVESTING – Ways You Can Invest in Your Community
From making monetary donations to creating a community garden, there are many ways to get involved in this type of way. Here are some ways you can contribute to your local community to make a difference.
Create a Garden for Your Community
Community gardens are a great way for people to come together and bond over a similar interest. It also provides food for those who may be struggling or even those who prefer some fresh garden tomatoes. Plus there are also other things to do for your neighbors, such as this list here to help out.
Purchase Real Estate in Lower-income Areas
This can be costly in some regards, but well worth it. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has set up programs to assist property owners in providing affordable housing. If you’ve considered investing in real estate, this is a great way to give back and help those who would benefit from the assistance.
Make Monetary Contributions
Many charities benefit greatly from receiving monetary contributions. These charities could be anything from the local animal shelter to an environmental charity. It could also mean writing up a check for a donation, or simply supporting your local business by purchasing their products rather than at a larger retail store. There are many ways to monetarily support local organizations, all of which are greatly appreciated.
Perform Walking Audits with Your Family
Walking audits are a great way to get involved and help those with different abilities. The goal of a walking audit is to find areas in the community that could be improved. Anyone can perform a walking audit, but it’s best if you invite a local leader as well as a variety of people with different abilities and at different ages. This will help you see where areas can be improved to be safe for everyone in your community.
There are many other ways you can help your community thrive, sometimes it just takes thinking outside the box. Going out and talking with others about local issues can give you a better idea of where the need is greatest.
