With interest rates climbing and inflation eating into most households’ budgets, making financial contributions towards worthy causes can be challenging within this touch economy. Luckily, there are other ways to make a meaningful impact within local communities that do not cost a cent.
“It is our collective responsibility to give back and leave this world a little better than we found it. There are many ways to contribute to the development of your community, many of which do not require large financial contributions,” says Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.
If you are hoping to enrich your local community but do not have the financial means to do so, RE/MAX of Southern Africa suggests a few easy, cost-efficient options.
1. Donate your time
Those on a tight budget could donate something that might even be more valuable than money — your time. Participate in a community clean-up or find a soup kitchen to volunteer at. Local animal shelters could always use the extra help and a trip to a local nursing home to socialise with the residents can make the world of difference.
2. Support local stores and services
You might not think of your everyday shopping as a way to give back to the community, but it actually can be. Whenever you shop locally or use local services, you support a member from your local area.To make even more of an impact, help them gain more business by leaving a positive review for them online or share their contact information with friends and family on your social pages.
3. Donate some blood
Giving blood will cost you nothing but it could save someone’s life. Donating just one unit of blood can save up to three lives. Hospitals and clinics run through blood very quickly, so every drop counts. Try to get your suburb more involved by organizing a day to donate blood and gather for a street braai afterwards. It could make a huge impact.
4. Start a community garden
If there is an open plot of land in your suburb, get in touch with your local municipality and explore the possibility of starting a community garden. The benefits of a community garden far outweigh those of being out in the fresh air, exercising, and providing food to the less fortunate. It provides the opportunity to set an example for the next generation by showing them how much work it takes to produce food and why it should not be taken for granted or wasted. Food-growing projects are a great way to bring the community together. With plenty of jobs in a garden, there’s bound to be something to suit every ability or skill.
5. Promote causes on social media
If you are unable to support a cause financially, perhaps somebody you know might be in a position to do so. Sometimes it is as easy as making someone aware of a problem for them to do something about it. You can use your social media presence to drive awareness for a certain cause that you believe needs more assistance. You never know who might also share and get even more people involved in the activity.
6. Donate unused goods at your local RE/MAX office
One of the best ways to give back to your community on a budget is to donate items that you no longer need but can still be useful to someone else. You could visit your local hospice, children’s home, animal shelter, or soup kitchen to find out if they are in need of something specific. Alternatively, RE/MAX runs an annual Coats & Cans collection drive over the Winter months where participating RE/MAX Offices act as collection points for warm clothes, blankets, and tinned food for homeless shelters, as well as pet food & blankets for pet shelters. To keep up to date with the latest collection drives, follow RE/MAX on social media.
“Though one might not have the means to help in a dramatic way, there are still many small ways to help those in need. If everyone contributes in whatever way they can, it will make a noticeable difference in our country,” Goslett concludes.
Writer : Kayla Ferguson