Now more than ever, we need to lean on each other for support and camaraderie. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic exacerbated the need for such support in 2020, and it’s a need we must still tend to this year and beyond. Below, we’ve tabulated a few of the best ways to offer assistance to people in need in 2021.

• Donate Your Belongings to Secondhand Shops

If you have some clothes, shoes, homewares, or furniture you don’t need or want anymore, you can donate them to a secondhand shop, such as Salvation Army or Goodwill Industries International. When you donate your belongings, you’re giving someone else an opportunity to enjoy the items you no longer use. For example, a dress that you haven’t worn for years could be a new favorite wardrobe staple for someone in need. That recliner sitting in your garage could be the focal point of someone else’s living room.

By donating your goods, you’re not only giving back to people in need but you’re giving back to the global community. This is because donating your belongings is a sustainable choice that keeps more waste out of landfills. Find a donation center near you by clicking here.

• Volunteer With a Not-for-Profit Organization

If you don’t have any spare goods to donate, you can donate your time and effort instead. Volunteering is a fantastic way to help people in need in 2021. You could work in a kitchen making meals for those without homes. You could assist the elderly with mobility by driving them around the community and helping them run errands. You could tutor children with disabilities.

With such a wide range of charities and positions available, you’ll undoubtedly find a vacancy that matches your skill set. If you’re ready to start looking, check out Volunteer.gov,  an excellent resource for finding volunteering positions.

• Spread the Word

Dedicating your time, money, and resources to a particular cause is a fantastic way to help people in need, but why not get more people in on the action? Real change happens when all of us come together and start working towards a shared goal.

Spread the word about the charities or causes you’re passionate about. Talk to your friends and family, and use social media to post about these issues on various platforms, from Facebook to Twitter to Instagram. Doing so will both inform and encourage those around you to get involved themselves. The more people there are behind your cause, the more likely it is that people in need will get the resources and support they need.

There are countless ways for you to help those in need. These three ideas are simply the tip of the iceberg. Hopefully, they have ignited your inspiration and motivation to get involved in your local community and give back to those who are less fortunate. The more you do, the more you’ll feel like a valuable, engaged, and selfless citizen.

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