Written by: Emily Joswiak • June 1, 2020• South Florida People

4 Ways to Become a More Responsible Citizen

The first step toward giving back more to your community begins with the desire to dig deeper into what that looks like. Past this point, there are many practical ways to become a more responsible citizen. Here are four effective examples.

Giving to Charity

Donating your resources or time to charity is an excellent way to plug in to the community more. The fun and meaningful part of donating is isolating one charity out of many that you particularly care for and are committing to helping out. Keep in mind, though, not all organizations officially qualify as a charitable organization—you should verify its IRS status to be more sure your resources will go toward the programs you care about. Once you’ve confirmed the pertinent information, cement your commitment by scheduling out donation intervals and finding ways you can routinely volunteer—you can even find ways to do so remotely.

Don’t Litter—Pick It Up

As you go about your day—whether walking through your neighborhood or strolling through a park—combat littering by picking up garbage instead when you can. Granted, don’t touch anything that looks suspect, but if you quickly dispose of some loose plastic on the ground, you eliminate both a hazard for wildlife and an unsightly piece of refuse that makes your area look worse if left there.

Donate Blood and More

Additionally, donating blood and potentially more is an excellent way to help those in dire medical straits. This is particularly helpful during the current coronavirus pandemic. Donated blood and plasma helps those with injuries, anemia, cancer, pregnancy complications, and much more, and it’s worth the momentary discomfort or even fear you may have about donating.

Beyond blood, there are other ways you can donate your body’s resources, such as registering as an organ donor. In all, an organ donor has the potential to help as many as 60 people in some way through their donated organs and tissue, meaning your decision could have a massive positive impact.

Perform Your Civic Duties Enthusiastically

Our final way to become a more responsible citizen is to perform your civic duties with pride and enthusiasm. This means voting not just every four years but every year. Treat your local elections as important as federal contests. Also, don’t shirk jury duty. Help make the wheels of the judicial system turn by giving your time to serve your state. Beyond these duties, advocate for causes you care about and talk to others about them. Even if people disagree with you, your civic engagement promotes the general health of your local and broader democratic system.

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