idealist.org

A Little Bit More: Open Up Your Home

Ideas from Dave.


By Terminalnomad Photograhy via Flickr In this dismal economy, we've been writing about ways we can make small, positive changes that become much bigger when added together. After reading a post about The Fresh Air Fund on our Idealist in NYC blog, I was reminded that our homes and apartments are assets that can help us take action.

The Fresh Air Fund gives free summer vacations to young New Yorkers and lets them experience a wide-open rural life. This is made possible by volunteers in small towns in New England and Ontario who volunteer to open up their homes.

The Fresh Air Fund is just one of many ways you can be a good host. You could...

• Offer to babysit for a neighbor who's working long hours to make ends meet.


• Find an after-school or weekend youth engagement project where you can provide adult contact for young people whose households are too stressed, or too overwhelmed by financial needs, to create the full range of community contacts themselves.


• Participate in an international exchange program. Search our volunteer listings for a long, long list of opportunities.


• Invite your friends and neighbors over and hold a house party dedicated to your favorite cause or nonprofit. Collect donations while having a great time

Are there other ways to be a host for good? Post your ideas in the comments.

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Previous entries in our A Little Bit More series:

March 10: Exchange Services Through Time Banking
February 27: Donate Your Birthday
February 23: Support the Arts During the Economic Downturn
February 19: Use the Internet to Stretch Your Organization's Dollar
February 17: Asking One Another: What Can We Do Now?