Charity is not just about giving money. Here is why giving some of your time can be more fulfilling.

When you are asked to help out a cause, it is easy to reach for your chequebook. Though there is nothing wrong in providing financial support, it is not the only way to help someone out. When you are personally involved in a cause, the sense of satisfaction you experience is much greater than when you simply write a cheque. However, most people shy away from any personal involvement. Most of the time, it is because they feel that they are not capable or they do not know how they can help. Here are a few alternatives to help you get started.

Logistic Help

If you are handy with tools, you can join a neighbourhood repair group or start one on your own. This is a group of people who help by carrying out minor repair work for neighbourhood houses or non-profit organisations. Most of the time, this work involves assisting some professionals. For example, helping out with painting, replacing a pipe, hammering nails, etc. Even if you are not good with your hands, you can still help out by carrying supplies, shifting furniture, etc.

Teaching

Many people do not realise how their talents can benefit other people. If you have a special skill such as painting, music, or even something as basic as reading, you could impart training to others. Teaching is one of the noblest ways to serve the community. Many schools have literacy programs for adults. You can help to teach one such class, which will involve teaching basic reading and writing skills. Another option is to teach basic computer skills to underprivileged students. If academics does not interest you, try teaching a hobby class instead. If you are not comfortable with a large group, try tutoring an underprivileged child. This way, you can help a child who cannot afford expensive private tuitions.

Teaching is not merely restricted to education. If you are a fitness professional, you can also lead an exercise or yoga class for senior citizens. If you are willing to make a long term commitment, you could provide some coaching for your child's school football team or something similar. It may require around one hour of your time in a week.

Helping Neighbours

Charity begins in your own neighbourhood. There are many ways in which you can help the people who live around you. If one of your neighbours is a single parent, you could offer to watch over her child while she does some errands or goes shopping for groceries. You could also give her a hand with some of her chores like cooking, tending to her plants, dropping her child to school etc.

You can also help out neighbours who are elderly or physically challenged. Since these people cannot move around easily, offer to take care of some of their outside work. You can help out by driving them to a doctor's appointment, paying their bills for them, depositing cheques in the bank, and picking up any items they have ordered from a nearby store. All these tasks can be easily accomplished when you go about your own personal work.

You can help even if you simply spend some time with people. You can read out the day's newspaper to an elderly person with failing eyesight. Another option is to set aside one afternoon in a week as 'movie time'. This is a nice way to spend time with a person who lives by herself and does not go out regularly. During this time, you visit the individual and both of you can watch a movie. This may not seem like much but remember that providing company to a lonely person goes a long way towards improving that individual's life.

Work with Local Organisations

Most local organisations will never refuse help. However, people assume that volunteering with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) involves only active social work like campaigning for donations, attending demonstrations, etc. This is not the case. Call up local organisations and offer your services to them. Tell them you are willing to do tasks that no one else is interested in. This could be anything from sorting out files, operating the office telephone, cataloguing donated items, typing reports etc. All these jobs are carried out behind the scenes but are very important for the smooth functioning of an organisation.

When you volunteer some of your time to help out someone, you can actually see the difference you are making to a person's life. Not only will you be helping a person in need, but also you will feel good about yourself.