Cool Ways to Give Back to your Community During Tough Times & Lockdowns

Giving definitely releases those happy endorphins, and most of all, no money is necessarily involved in many of these suggestions brainstormed herein. Give without expecting anything in return, and your mental health improves, together with the quality of your life full stop.

You can donate money if you wish to, yet in pandemic lockdowns in particular, many of us have more time as opposed to money to give, and this is where the heart comes into play through giving a small portion of your time. Just an hour will make the world of difference.

All of us need to eat, and tough times are better than any in order to foster the importance of connecting to other human beings, and shopping locally is one great way of helping to support a local business that would be struggling on the back of some COVID-19 restrictions or similar. Choosing local stores over online retailers and large corporations is a nice way to enjoy some feel good endorphins in the pursuit of fulfilling a basic need, such as the need to eat.

If you love animals, such times pave the way to support a local animal shelter, or walk a sick friends dog in times of dire need. Animals make fantastic companions, and helping a rescue enjoy a better quality of life while they are waiting to get adopted, and all thanks to you is better than any paid job. Eve if you speak to your local veterinarian, and help clean out cages at cat boarding facilities, and pet these pets.

Another great option is to save lives, and this is still an essential service during a pandemic, as car accidents and the like still happen: give blood. Some countries offer payment in exchange for blood and plasma, yet it is a simple act of kindness, because you never know. Many blood banks provide snacks and treats afterwards.

If you are after some more adrenaline, another option is to volunteer in the emergency services. The world needs more firefighters. Then again, look at what Australia went through pre-pandemic, and California has had their lions share of such; and Turkey definitely needs help here right now.

If lockdown restrictions enable the opportunity to visit an elderly person in an aged care facility or hospital; you could make a difference to that person's wellbeing, as the elderly are also quite lonely and isolated. You never know what you will learn from those who have survived world wars and great depressions.

If the younger ones are more preferable, then there are ample opportunities to volunteer at your local kids sporting club, as well as in the Girl Guide and Scouts, from mentoring and timekeeping, to helping sell merchandise. These organisations are generally not for profit, and they are great confidence boosters for the little ones. Otherwise school canteens need a helping hand from time to time.

Community gardens are also great places to lend a helping hand, if you are into lush greenery as a nature buff. Otherwise parks and beaches always need cleaning from time to time, in order to preserve and protect our water based species. It does not take much to pick up a few pieces of rubbish in less than five minutes. Your impact makes a world of difference in being a conscious wave maker.

Charities and food banks also need a helping hand in helping feed and provide toiletries and clothing to the homeless. This may involve food preparation and/or delivery, and the same applies for those who are doing it tough, and of who are fortunate to have a home. People are amazing at volunteering during times of crisis. local councils also recruit volunteers to do a head count in small groups of those sleeping rough on the streets.

If you are a bit time poor as well, then there is nothing wrong with giving unwanted items that someone else could benefit from, provided they are in mint condition. For example, there are book swap exchanges in Australia. Why not leave a book or two that you no longer need, in order to help someone else.

Of course, if you have any other skills such as sales, admin and social media marketing abilities; charities and not for profits need help in these areas. Writing on Vocal Media to help others in the personal development space, can also be a form of voluntary work. This is also a win/win if you have recently completed your studies, and to gain some experience in order to stand out from the pack when job hunting. Such organisations are willing to provide great references for a job well done.

When you die, you can also donate your organs, and there is a fun opportunity to also give back to science without having to give your body over to clinical trails, is by becoming a Citizen Scientist, where you might be called on to take photos of marine life, to counting the number of birds in your backyard. Examples of such tasks can be found by clicking here.

There is a volunteer opportunity for everyone, and you do real what you sow.

* Volunteer your oher sills - can include writing on here

* Donate you rogans

* Citizen scientist