When used thoughtfully, social media can be a powerful tool for building connections and supporting causes in communities near and far. In this article, we share three ways to connect to your community through social media!

Organize a service or volunteer project

Social media can be a great place to start organizing a service or volunteer project. Try recruiting friends, classmates, or club members via social media to get involved and spread the word! Here are some ideas for ways to give back to your community together:

• Volunteer at your local food bank. Use Feeding America's local food bank finder and invite some friends to join you in volunteering!
• Gather donations for local homeless shelters. Essentials such as clean clothes, sturdy shoes, jackets, and toiletries are always in high demand at homeless shelters. Use the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s homeless shelter finder to find a shelter in your community that you can give back to.

Raise awareness about causes you’re passionate about

Social media is a great tool for spreading awareness about situations and causes people should know about. Once you have a list of causes you want to spread the word about, share them with your social media community! Here are some ways you can raise awareness and make a difference:

• Learn about trending social causes and how to take action through Next Voice.
• Find, sign, and share petitions with your community on Change.org. If there’s a situation or cause in your community that you want to raise awareness about, create your own petition!
• Raise awareness about topics such as bullying, racism, and LGBTQ+ discrimination.

Stay connected to local politics and causes

Social media can help you stay informed about community issues and discussions. Follow your official city and county pages as well as community leaders to stay up-to-date. You can also report any issues or concerns, and make suggestions for improvement through their social media pages.

Additionally, if there's a community leader or politician whose values and causes align with yours, you can likely serve as a volunteer or ambassador for them to raise awareness among your friends and community!

Have any questions about getting involved with your community through social media? Text #Hello to 33-55-77 to chat with one of our advisors. If you're using a mobile device, click here to have the text message set up for you!