Ways to help your community this semester
It’s a tough time for everyone right now and we could all use an extra bit of love and care in the world. So if you have some spare time, resources or even money to help out another family in need or your wider community, why not share the love this semester? Get together and make it a family project. This is not only a great way to teach kids about kindness and community service, but it’s an opportunity to make a real difference in someone’s life. Here are some ideas if you’re not sure where to start:
Donate your time
Sometimes the most valuable things in life do not cost any money at all. Maybe a family you know who is homeschooling this semester might need some extra help in a subject that you are an expert in or your child has already covered in school. Take the time to help them out, it could just be one hour out of your week. Maybe you know a young person who has been affected by the lack of opportunities due to the pandemic. You could offer some time to mentor them. Or it could be as simple as getting your kids to walk the neighbor’s dog. There are many ways we can help one another just by giving up some of our time, it doesn’t have to cost the earth.
Donate outgrown clothing
Get rid of the clothes that you haven’t touched for the past 5 months. Who actually enjoys wearing uncomfortable jeans, do they really spark joy? This global pandemic has proved that they don’t belong in our lives! Sell them and put that money to better use. Support your favourite local business, family-run restaurant or a Black-owned business since it’s National Black Business Month. We’ve compiled lists of some amazing Black businesses you can support on @mirzasayshey, go check out the posts.
Alternatively, you can pass on your children’s outgrown clothing, toys or books to your neighbours, local charity or school. If your children wear school uniforms, why not donate the outgrown clothing back to the school for other families in need? Buying school uniforms is already costly, and with many families hard hit by COVID, back to school expenses have become an even bigger burden. So it’s more important than ever to give back where we can. If you can’t donate school uniforms, you can still support fundraisers like the School Uniform Help campaign organized by Dope Black Mums. If you can’t afford to donate money, we encourage you to share their initiative and give them a follow @dopeblackmums on instagram. Every little bit helps.
Hold your own school supplies drive
Buying school supplies can be expensive. We’ve already suggested some affordable options for families on a budget, but why not get involved and directly help your local community by organizing your own fundraising event? Kids In Need Foundation provides a School Supply Drive Toolkit with tips for holding a successful event. Reach out to your neighbors, fellow parents, local organizations and businesses to get the community involved.
Clear the list movement
The National Center for Education has reported that on average, teachers spend $480 of their own money to supply the classroom with necessary resources. Through the ‘Clear the List’ initiative, teachers create Amazon wish lists of school supplies they need. Donors then purchase the items on the list. Set this up with your local school teachers to support your community. This is also a great option if you’re unable to hold an in-person fundraising event during this time.
Help fund classroom projects
Donorschoose.org is a teacher founded nonprofit, a classroom funding site for teachers and students. You can choose the project you want to support and donate directly to the teacher. You can also set up a monthly donation and pick a different project to support each time. This is a wonderful way to support teachers all over the country.
Want more ideas?
Check out these incredible initiatives that help connect you to families and children in need. They provide activities and projects that your family can do together to directly help others. From simple ideas to long term commitments there’s something for everyone.
Doing Good Together: they have a wide variety of resources on how you can help families in need. They offer volunteering options, workshops, and events throughout the year. We recommend starting with their Big-Hearted Families program, a toolbox full of ideas on how your family can help your community and practice kindness in everyday life.
Family-To-Family: committed to ease the burden of hunger and poverty on impoverished American families, this nonprofit enables you to sponsor a family in need and help them get groceries and basic personal care items each month. They connect you to a specific family that you can build a relationship with.
Family Promise: this nonprofit helps homeless and low-income families by providing food, shelter, support and advice. They have a range of programs you can get involved with as a family, including their crafts project, Houses for Change.
First Book: with the closure of schools across the country, millions of children do not have access to the educational resources they need. Through First Book, you can help support kids in need by joining their Book Club Program, fundraising or simply donating.
