Personal growth May 1, 2019 By
At First United, we take great pride in being a community bank. It is a privilege that comes with the responsibility to give back to our local communities, economically and philanthropically. We are a part of our hometown communities not as an independent institution, but as part of a financial ecosystem that flourishes when the entire environment is healthy.
Last month, we posted an article called, “We Do What’s Right,” where we talked about our seven organizational values. One of these seven organizational values is Community. The full value states, “We make a difference in the lives of others. We share our time and our hearts with our communities.”
Think about what you are currently doing for your community. If you are not currently active in your community, I encourage you to find something that needs to be done… and go do it! If you are already involved in your community in some way, I challenge you to add at least one more thing to what you currently do.
Here are some ideas to help you get started:
- Volunteer at a local school, offer to help as a tutor, join the Parent Teacher Association, etc.
- Donate clothes, food, or other goods to local food banks or shelters in your area
- Help out with local organizations such as Meals on Wheels, the Boys & Girls Club, etc.
- Join one of your local community boards
- Volunteer your time at an animal shelter or offer to help find homes for rescue animals
These are just a few of the many ways you could help your community. If you are not able to volunteer your time, you can still help by supporting local businesses in your area that give back to the community. By contributing to these businesses, you are helping them to support a local need.
Every community needs help with something, and it is up to us, the people who live in these communities, to help make a difference.
Remember what our former President Ronald Reagan once said, “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”
