Businesses and communities have been doing right by each other since the dawn of modern commerce, and it’s easy to see why. After all, businesses that serve the community get valuable brand visibility, and the community benefits in the process.

Looking for ways to give back to your community? There are numerous opportunities to serve.

Become a mentor

Sharing your knowledge and expertise with community groups or individuals can go a long way in helping others while lending credibility to your business. Presenting a case study or experience on a topic to a local student group can enrich young people’s minds, give them food for thought about career opportunities and guide their education path.

Consider these easy options:

• Pledge time to provide mentoring to special interest groups. You can offer career advice, technical help and other information on starting small businesses.
• Serve as a mentor to college students in your area of expertise.
• Share information by contributing to a local community website. Depending on your business and audience, you can provide computer, financial, real estate, medical, software, shopping, retirement or automotive advice and much more. 

Volunteer where help is needed most

Pick a way to serve your community and you can end up making a huge difference. These are just a few of the many service opportunities available:

• Food banks regularly need teams of people to help distribute food. Look to your local food bank’s outreach program for more information about getting involved.
• Contribute your volunteer services to a humane society or animal shelter.
• Work with Habitat for Humanity to help build homes. You don’t need carpentry or other skills to assist and help a family in need.
• Serve on trash cleanup days helps keep streets, parks and waterways clean. Volunteer trash pickup takes a load off community resources and brings your team together.
• Donate toys, clothing, shoes and outerwear to support children’s causes.
• Inquire with organizations such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army or your local United Way to find opportunities in your local community.

Directly help those in need

Small businesses are a big deal in the United States. They help create jobs and provide essential services and products. People generally like to support their local businesses as well. It never hurts to reach out to the community. Offer something to help the homeless and underprivileged. Providing services for free can help them and others too.

Whether it comes in the form of a labor of love or a financial contribution, making an effort to help the immediate community increases your visibility. Being a supportive business also builds your brand locally, improves reputation and shows you care about people’s well-being.