Spring into community service!

Spring is a time of renewal for many, and while some of us might sneeze and wheeze through the season, it’s still wonderful to see blooming flowers and trees. Spring is also a great time to plant the seeds of community service. Whether it’s clearing trash from a local highway, reconstructing a local playground, or planting a community garden, community service is an excellent way to bring about change where you live. So grab your work gloves and get started today! Here are some project ideas to consider.

– Help people paint and repair their homes. Go a step further and get involved with Habitat for Humanity and help build homes for underprivileged families in your community.

– Volunteer to clean up trash around local neighborhoods. If you’re feeling really ambitious, there are Adopt-a-Highway programs throughout the U.S. and Canada that are always looking for volunteer groups to cleanup and maintain local roads and highways. This could be a great project for a UCT local council! Not only will you receive goodwill advertising on a sign on your section of adopted highway, but you’ll also realize the personal satisfaction of doing something good for your community.

– Organize a campaign to raise money for new playground equipment, or recruit friends, family or fellow members and reconstruct the playground yourself. You’ll enjoy the camaraderie and feel good about doing something good for local children.

– Partner with a local youth group and plant a community garden. Community gardening is a healthy, inexpensive activity for youth that can bring them closer to nature and allow them to interact with each other in a socially meaningful and physically productive way.

– Get involved with your city or state parks, both of which offer volunteer programs and are always grateful for the support. Work on educational nature programs for the public and students, work on hiking trail cleanup and maintenance, or lend a hand planting flowers and shrubs.

– Start a local recycling campaign or ask your local recycling center if there’s a project they need done. Recycling can benefit your community and the environment, and it can help bring positive attention to your UCT local council.

The opportunities are virtually endless, and the benefits to your community are immeasurable. Start looking around your local area, and you might be surprised to find out how many projects are available and need help – or need someone like you to get them off the ground. There’s no better time than now!