Ahh, November, the time for friends, family, and food. The month of November is also a time when most of us start to think about all that we are thankful for, and think about how to give back. Because the majority of us are so focused on school and the rapidly approaching holidays, we often forget to think about ways to give back to the community. Well, now that I have your attention, here are some fantastic and low maintenance ways you can give back to our campus and the Washington, D.C. metro area.
Get involved on campus.
Did you know that American University has an entire office devoted to community service? It is called the Centre For Community Engagement and Service, and they offer a plethora of ways to get involved, from alternative breaks to one-day service events. On the ODSE (one-day service events) homepage, you can find dozens of opportunities to give back both on and off-campus. These opportunities include everything from working with animals to children’s events, so find what you feel most passionate about and give back to the community that gives so much to you.
Get involved in an issue in the D.C. area.
Are you most passionate about a particular issue? There are several organizations dedicated helping a particular group of people. Among these organization, there are several women’s shelters that provide for women and their children who are victims of domestic violence, natural disaster, financial ruin, etc…If you are passionate about women’s rights and any of the aforementioned issues, try volunteering at one of these shelters. A list of shelters and organizations dedicated to helping women in the Metro area can be found here. This is a wonderful and rewarding way to give back to your community, as these organizations are often overlooked.
Help out at a soup kitchen.
Lastly, considering the fact that most of us associate November with Thanksgiving and food, one of the best ways you can give back to your community is through food drives and soup kitchens. These organizations are a fantastic way to give back to your community, as they are very flexible with their level of commitment. Therefore, you can try it out for a day or a weekend or you can become apart of the organization and become a regular volunteer. With the holiday season coming up, many soup kitchens are looking for extra hands, so why not lend yours? A list of soup kitchens, food banks, and food pantries in the DC metro area can be found here.
I hope that these options have encouraged and inspired you to give back in some way this holiday season. It is so important to take time to think about all that we are grateful for in life. Remember, there are endless ways you can give back! So find what you are passionate about or what inspires you, and use it to take care of the community that does so much to take care of you!