While it’s important to give back to the community, it doesn’t have to be a big cash donation. There are a variety of ways to support local nonprofits and charities. Doing so can help them reach their goals and provide them with the resources they need.

  1. Donate Blood

You can help save three lives each time you donate blood if you’re healthy and weigh 110 pounds or more. It can be done six times a year. To schedule an appointment, contact your local blood center.

  1. Volunteer Time

Getting involved with a local charity or nonprofit organization can be a great way to support them when you can’t offer up cash. Many of them rely on volunteers to help with various tasks, such as collecting donations and organizing events. To find out more about volunteering, contact the charity you’re interested in supporting.

  1. Save Unneeded Materials

Sometimes, donating used items can help a local charity. For instance, a local thrift store uses donated plastic bags instead of purchasing their own to package merchandise. It asks its supporters to bring in their extra plastic bags when dropping off their donations

  1. Share Your Network

If a charity you follow reaches out to you for help, consider if members of your professional or personal network would be able to assist. For instance, if a building repair project needs help, you might have a friend who lives in a nearby town who can help.

  1. Purchase Goods from Charity Shops

Although it’s not always possible to give back to the community with cash, you can still support local charities by shopping at stores that sell goods and services that support them. For instance, many thrift stores are operated by local organizations such as The Salvation Army. These stores sell used goods and services to raise money for various charitable causes.

  1. Donate Old Items

If you have too many clothes, books, or other items that are no longer useful, consider donating them to a charity or giving them to someone who needs them. Doing so will allow you to claim a charitable donation on your tax return, and the charity can benefit by either reselling them or giving them to people in need.

  1. Raise Money Through Crafts

Making and selling sweet treats or crafts is a simple and effective way to support local charities. You can sell various types of crafts and products, such as pet treats and decorative items, and a portion of the proceeds will go toward supporting the charity. If you’re a skilled knitter, consider donating your creations to a charity that will use them to provide warm clothes and other items to people in need. Likewise, if you’re a skilled cook, consider helping a local soup kitchen by making meals for those in need.

  1. Share Your Skills

You can also help others by volunteering as a board member or mentor for a charity or church. For instance, if you’re a retired business executive, you can help new entrepreneurs by giving advice on how to navigate the marketplace.