shelter_volunteerImage Source: Humane Society of Catawba County

It’s true, volunteering can open the door to incredibly rewarding experiences—both for you and the communities and/or organizations you serve. However, finding an opportunity that caters to your interests and skill set can often prove to be challenging.

Read on for a few fun ways to get involved in your local community.

Local Events

Love to meet new people? Do you consider yourself an extrovert? Be sure to stay up-to-date with local publications such as Creative Loafing and online event sites such as Yelp to learn more about upcoming events in the Charlotte. Whether it’s a music and arts festival, a performance by your local dance troupe, or a special presentation such as an outdoor movie viewing, GO!

Donate Your Time

No matter if you only have an hour of freedom each day or leisurely weekends, there are a variety of ways to allocate your time to serve the community. Whether it’s feeding the homeless at a shelter, walking dogs at the animal shelter or reading to the elderly at a retirement home, there are plenty of ways to donate your time to help others.

Donate Your Resources

Alternatively, if you’re too busy to dedicate your time, think about donating. Consider this: food banks are always in need of non-perishable items, women’s shelters are always in need of sanitary products and libraries are always in need of books

Join a Civic Group

Passionate a cause? Want to meet likeminded people? Civic organizations such as Habitat for Humanity exist to improve neighborhoods through volunteer work by its members.

Shop Locally

Love to shop? Charlotte is certainly a great place for local options. Buying from local restaurants, farmer’s markets and vendors not only helps to keep money local (thus growing our local economy), but also help to create more jobs in the in the community.

Tell Me: How do you get involved in your local community?