By Joli Guenther

A sure sign of a healthy community is the active involvement of its members. And "active involvement" means so much more than serving on a committee or running for office. If you have (or recognize) good ideas and work with others to make them a reality, you can make a difference close to home by investing the resources you have available. Investments of time, money, or even positive energy are more than just altruism. Making a difference gives you a chance to be active and connect with your community in a meaningful way. You also get to use existing skills (or gain new ones), network, and enjoy your community on a deeper level.

Making a difference doesn’t have to require a big commitment. The website www.charityguide.org provides a variety of volunteer projects that can be completed in whatever time you have available, ranging from as little as 15 minutes to as long as a week’s vacation. Causes are divided into animal welfare, children’s issues, community development, environmental protection, healthcare, and overcoming poverty. "Channel your concerns into positive action," urges Deborah Mitchell, Senior Editor for Charity Guide’s environmental protection volunteer opportunities. Activities such as helping to build a backyard habitat for wild life, switching to green cleaning products, or caring for an animal from a local shelter allow you to connect with the local environmental needs of your community while requiring little formal involvement or scheduling of volunteer time. Helping to organize local carpool or a blood drive are other time-limited projects that can allow for active involvement during slower times in your schedule.

Once you’ve decided on a cause that matters to you, take a look around for opportunities to get involved in things you care about. Traditional volunteer activities provide ways to contribute to your community, often by improving the lives of one person or family at a time. Colin Powell, founding chairman of America’s Promise and former Secretary of State, recognizes, "what adults do for children, what mentors do for children, is to pass on a hundred previous generations of experience...we have an obligation to do this for all of our children, especially those children who don’t have this family structure, or whose family structure needs some help". The Corporation for National Service offers opportunities for community involvement through its AmeriCorps, VISTA, and Senior Corps Programs. These unpaid or stipend positions respond to an immediate need in the community, such as literacy or homelessness. Individual communities may also have mentoring, educational, and advocacy programs through schools and community agencies.

If you’re having a hard time finding an organization that addresses your concerns, you might be able to bring the issue to the attention of an established civic or service group. If the issue needs ongoing attention and support, consider starting your own non-profit organization, by bringing together citizens with similar concerns to address the issue. Monica Zindler, Executive Director of Marion House Transitional Living Program, did exactly that when she started her residential program providing services to teen mothers and their children in Green Bay, Wisconsin. "When we started, our vision was to help young moms ... who might have less support than the average person," said Zindler. "Our goal is, when they leave here they will be successful at their independence." Through grassroots efforts within the community, Zindler’s program has grown from a group of concerned citizens to the reality of a group home and transitional living apartment building serving young women and their babies. Through the work of Zindler and her partners, these young women are provided with a second chance for a successful transition to adulthood. Information on beginning your own non-profit can be obtained by calling the IRS or visiting www.irs.gov.

As Clint Eastwood, celebrity, long time mentor and community activist points out "You always learn something, not only about younger people and what they’re asking today, but you learn something about yourself, too. If you start talking and bringing up recollections...you can learn a lot about yourself, about what you have to offer. A lot of people don’t take credit...as to what they might have to offer for younger people. And when you start talking to...younger people you find out that they are very, very, interested". Once you’ve opened the door to your community, the opportunities to make a difference might surprise you. Eastwood recognizes, "You just never know what you have to offer until you start offering it."

Are you looking for advice on getting involved, or have some advice to pass along? Share with the DEPEND® community on the discussion boards!

Sources:
www.charityguide.org/volunteer/environmental-protection.htm; retrieved on February 24, 2009
www.hsph.harvard.edu/chc/wmy2009/Celebrities/colin_powell.html, retrieved on February 24, 2009
Zarling, Patti. New Apartments Offer Young Mothers Hope. Green Bay Press Gazette. January 9, 2009
www.hsph.harvard.edu/chc/wmy2008/Celebrities/clint_eastwood.html; retrieved on February 24, 2009