Make 2016 A Year of Service

On January 18, 2016, many people across the U.S. engaged in service activities on the federal holiday to honor the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and to continue his legacy of service. The MLK Day of Service is also a part of United We Serve, the President’s national call to service initiative which is built upon the belief that ordinary people can come together and achieve extraordinary things when given the proper tools.

If you did not get a chance to volunteer on MLK Day, there are many opportunities for you to get involved and help out others in your community throughout the year. You can visit Serve.gov to find volunteer opportunities near you.

Here are some ideas for how you can help out in your community:

•  Collect food for your local food bank. They are always in need of donations—and not just during the holidays. There is a great need during the summer when schools are on break, and subsidized breakfast and lunch programs are not available for children.
• Volunteer at your local food bank. You can come in as an individual, or plan a group outing with co-workers, friends, or family members and help sort and pack food items.
• Help prepare and serve food at a homeless shelter or community center. The staff will appreciate the help, and the patrons will enjoy interacting with others in their community.
• Help build and renovate homes. Volunteer with an organization like Habitat for Humanity in your community, or sign up for volunteer trips throughout the U.S.
• Participate in a neighborhood, park, or beach cleanup. Many neighborhood organizations have at least one yearly event where they garden, paint, or clean up an area within the community.
• Support a backpack/supply drive. Most schools have a backpack and school supplies drive before the beginning of each school year. You can volunteer to help collect and sort items, or donate money and supplies.
• Collect warm coats and blankets for the winter season. While shelters need donations throughout the year, warm coats and blankets are in most need during the fall and winter season.

If you are not able to volunteer your time, but would still like to help, then another option is to donate money. This is probably the best way you can help out organizations that serve your community. No matter what the amount, every little bit counts. Many organizations, such as food banks, can make your donation dollars stretch further and serve more people through their partnerships with various organizations.

Not sure where to donate your money? You can always make a donation to the Windermere Foundation and designate your funds to the Windermere Real Estate office nearest you. This ensures that your donation will go towards supporting non-profit organizations that serve people in need in your community. For more information about the Windermere Foundation, please visit http://www.windermere.com/foundation.

Please consider donating your time and money throughout the year, and help us make 2016 a year of service. Together, we can make a positive impact in our communities.