20 Things You Can Do To Make This World A Better

You’d have to be living under a rock these days not to have noticed a significantly emotionally charged climate, especially on social media. With all of the fear whirling around, we feel as if we have no control, and the tendency is to place blame on someone or something.  It gives us the illusion of control.  But in doing this, someone or some group must be made out to be “the other”.  And when someone becomes “other than” they also become “less than”, and subject to ridicule, hate, exclusion and worse, with no feelings of remorse by the offender.

But you say, “he/she started it…”

If you participate you are the same.  Name calling, ridiculing, being disrespectful, any of it.  You are the same.  You are diminishing yourself and all of us.  We will only continue the cycle by participating in it.  Period.  It doesn’t matter what “side” you’re on, or how “right” or justified you think you are.

What I’m about to suggest is a bit radical.  It is profound because it is so simple yet so effective.  If you are angered by injustice, inequality, division, and hate in the world around you, do something about it.  At home.  Now.  Every day.

As someone who has worked professionally in the realm of abuse, neglect, and mental health, I can assure you, there is no shortage of horrific and deplorable events and circumstances in your own community, every day, behind closed doors.  The issues that people are carrying signs for are waiting to be addressed within your own community.  Screaming silently in the background just under the average citizen’s radar.

And there is something you can do about it.  Lots of things actually.  You first have to effect change within your immediate sphere of influence before you will ever be able to extend beyond what you can do now.  True, it is easier to be vocal and “get behind” issues that are global and vague and “out there”, but it is within reach to actively address them at a local level. And we would be hypocrites if we were outraged about these issues yet failed to address them within our own community.

To give a few examples, I jotted down a list of 20 concrete ideas for actionable steps we could take toward making ourselves, our communities and our world better.  This list is specific to Missoula, Montana, but you could easily find the equivalent organizations where you live.  And if they don’t exist, set about creating them.  If you need help brainstorming, let me know.  Finding a way and locating resources is my superpower.

20 Things You Can Do To Make This World A Better Place: 

Most of these ideas could be done as an individual, and some as a family, a group of co-workers, a church group, or you could create your own non-religiously affiliated “helping” group, to work together.

1. Mentor a child - Volunteer to be a Big Brother or Big Sister - Big Brother Big Sisters; http://www.bbbsmissoula.org (406) 721-2380. You wouldn’t believe how many kiddos are on the waiting list because there aren’t enough volunteers.
2. Become a CASA volunteer – CASA of Missoula - https://www.casamissoula.org 406-542-1208. Be a voice for the most vulnerable children in your community.  There’s also a waiting list for these kiddos.
3. Become a foster parent – There is a dire need for foster parents.

Child and Family Services - (406) 523-4100http://dphhs.mt.gov/CFSD/Fosterparent

Youth Homes - (406) 721-2704 http://youthhomesmt.org/services/foster-care-and-adoption

Partnership For Children - (406) 543-5531 http://pfcmt.org/foster-care-and-adoption/

4. Organize an ongoing collection or fundraising for toiletries for those in need. Many items such as toilet paper, soap, laundry detergent, feminine hygiene products, toothpaste/toothbrushes, hair brushes, etc. are not available at food banks and are hard to come by for homeless, marginally homeless and low income individuals and families.  These items are needed year round, not just around the holidays.
5. Organize an ongoing collection or fundraising for clothing for women, children and families that are in need.
6. Organize and fund raise money to grant “wishes” to children in foster care. Caseworkers have to somehow come up with funds for kiddos in foster care for things most people take for granted.  Everything costs money.  Drivers Ed, playing an instrument in the school band, participating in extracurricular activities, going on field trips, etc.  Coordinate with the local Child and Family Services office.  Names of children and families will always be anonymous due to privacy concerns, but you can will all the same make a difference in a child’s life.  Child and Family Services: 406-523-4100
7. Organize and fund raise money to grant “wishes” to local classrooms. Coordinate with a local school to see what teachers need for their students and classrooms.  Everyone knows teachers are using their own income to partially fund classroom needs.  Let’s help them out and show our children they are taken care of.
8. Regularly check and grant wishes to My Student In Need, a marvelous website that allows the public to help children in need via their teachers/school staff. http://mystudentinneed.org/Missoula-MT/
9. Set up a booth at a community event to raise awareness, raise money, organize volunteers, etc. about whatever pressing issue you see as most pertinent.
10. Volunteer with Missoula Aging Services to show the elderly members of our community that they are taken care of. https://missoulaagingservices.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/ - 406-728-7682
11. Volunteer with Meals on Wheels and show seniors and adults with disabilities in our community that they are taken care of. https://missoulaagingservices.org/our-services/nutrition-program/meals-on-wheels/ - 406-728-7682
12. Donate, fundraise for, or organize a collection for professional clothing for women and men seeking employment and who may not otherwise have appropriate clothing to seek employment for which they are qualified.
13. Organize a fundraiser or drive to supply needed items and clothing to a children’s shelter in your community. Watson Children’s Shelter 406-549-0058; https://watsonchildrensshelter.org/ways-to-give
14. Organize a fundraiser or drive to supply needed items and clothing to a women’s shelter in your community. YWCA Missoula; http://ywcaofmissoula.org/wish-list (406)543-6691
15. Organize support and provide resources and concrete services for single parents within your community. Talk to single parents; form a focus group; find out what their biggest obstacles are and brainstorm ways to help them be their best.
16. Organize support and provide resources and concrete services for domestic violence survivors within your community. YWCA Missoula; http://ywcaofmissoula.org/get-involved (406) 543-6691; There’s actually a bunch of ways to volunteer on their website!
17. Volunteer/Become an advocate for survivors of domestic violence. YWCA Missoula; http://ywcaofmissoula.org/get-involved (406) 543-6691
18. Organize/lead a new mom’s (and dad’s) mentor program. Being a new mom/dad is tough.  Especially if you don’t have knowledge of or experience with childcare or don’t have family, friends, or resources to help you out.
19. Be in regular contact and communication with your representatives and local government.
20. Educate yourself about local resources and share them with others. Know what help is available to people and how to get it.

Bonus Ideas Because I Kept Thinking Of More Ways To Help…

21. Organize and educate a community group of concerned citizens to advocate for the end of domestic and sexual violence against women and men. Be active in your community through volunteering with organizations or creating a new one to not only provide support for survivors but to act as a watch group within the community.  Hold the authorities responsible for upholding the law and keeping the community safe.  Be actively involved.
22. Foster open and working relationships with community leaders, agencies, and organizations to be able to best serve and effect positive change within your own community.
23. Organize after-school programs.
24. Volunteer to teach evening/weekend classes to adults working toward their GEDs.
25. Mentor/tutor children and adults who need the help but cannot otherwise afford it.
26. Organize/lead a focus group to discover the most pertinent needs of those in need in your community or neighborhood and set about addressing them.
27. Volunteer to teach a class about budgeting/finances/job seeking/grocery shopping/meal planning/organizing/etc. to adults in need within your community.

We have the freedom and the opportunity to be active in our communities and effect real change.  If even a fraction of the people who recently marched and protested were to commit to being actively involved in their communities on a regular basis, building up others, offering a hand to those in need, educating, advocating and enriching the lives of the most vulnerable members of the community, the positive changes would spread like wildfire.

We should be so busy creating positive change in our own lives and communities that we have no time to complain or dwell in the negative.

We are all in a state of becoming.  Let’s become better.  Build each other up.  Show love and gratitude.  Always.  There is no other way.