Donating gently used items, money, and volunteering your time to help low-income or homeless families in your area is worth more than a coveted spot on your resume. Even if you live in a safe and quiet neighborhood, it is important to understand that there are many individuals in need of your help. While donating your old jeans or books may not seem like you are making positive change, you are actually taking part in improving the economy of your local community.

When you donate time, money, or items to your local community, you are improving the lives and opportunities for people who need it most. Donate money to local charities and boost your local economy. Because you are not giving to national or international charities, you can be sure that you are not paying the salaries of board members or top executives. It isn’t to say that these charities do not do any good in the world, but donating locally means putting money and resources directly into the pockets of those who need it right in your community. 

Learning how donating locally helps the economy is an important part of finding the local charitable organization that meets your values and helps those around you. Even if you cannot see them, a significant amount of people live in poverty - 14.8% of Americans in 2014. The working poor often cannot make enough to get, and keep, the essentials. When you support local charities that support low-income families, you are supporting your community and helping them to live a better life. When people are able to rise out of their struggles, the local economy will improve.

Whether you are looking for the best place to donate clothes or which charity in your area provides essentials to those without a home, you can be sure that you are encouraging the use of local resources. Giving your used items new life by offering them to those in your community means that these resources stay in the community. You can share resources with your community by creating a community garden, which feeds and supports people around it. In a community garden, everyone brings in their resources and time to create something new that everyone can share.

Donating clothing, money, and volunteering time to those that need it most is a courageous and humble act. More than producing the happy chemicals, it also supports your local community and supports those who may not otherwise have support. Keep your community growing and strong by donating locally.