5 New Year’s Resolutions to Help You Give Back in 2017

 This year, after the ball drops in Times Square, it’s time to give back to your community. While there are always personal goals to work on for your New Year’s resolutions, like losing weight, eating better, or organizing your finances, a goal of giving back to others can help benefit you in more ways than one. First of all, it feels good to contribute and help others. It’s also a great way to build lasting relationships in your community. Here are five New Year’s resolutions to help you give back in 2017.

1. Support Those in Uniform

It’s always a great idea to support those in uniform. When January 1st rolls around, there are several ways you can take action to help out the millions of men and women who serve this country. One thing you can do is make a donation to a charity that is associated with the military. You could also take time to create care packages for soldiers who are stationed in far away places. Include a few non-perishable snacks, magazines, and other small items to help soldiers pass the time while on active duty.

2. Visit a Nursing Home

Next, show support to your community’s population of senior citizens. Start at one of the local nursing homes in your neighborhood, and get into a routine of periodically visiting the residents. Make some connections to the people who live there, and develop strong friendships. You can also help out seniors in your neighborhood who do not live in nursing homes. Those who live independently can always use some helpful hands with carrying groceries into the house, shoveling show off their walkways, or helping out with lawn care. There are also volunteer opportunities with several senior organizations.

3. Share Your Voice

Giving back doesn’t always mean you have to go to a specific place and take action. Sometimes the mere act of voicing your opinion can be helpful to your community. If you are troubled by your region or country’s injustices to a group of people, don’t stay silent. Voice your opinion, and follow some guidelines by expert professors and graduate students in the Communication Management program at USC.

4. Volunteer at a Local School

Another way to help out your local area is through education. Schools all over the world are in need of capable, compassionate volunteers to help work with classrooms of students. You could give back by reading to students, helping kids solve problems, or offering tutoring or homework sessions after school. This way, you could join the ranks of world-class leaders from graduate programs in education like Maryville University.

5. Support the Needy

Finally, the last way to help is by supporting the less fortunate. Nearly every area has some sort of homeless shelter or resource center, so make it a point to find out where your community shelter is located. Then, start volunteering your time and effort into helping out in any way you can. You can provide canned food donations, volunteer work hours in the shelter, or even a listening ear to those who may be struggling.

Being a helper this year can give you a greater sense of purpose in life. Try offering support to your community to help make it a better place.