Realtor View: Make a difference in your community as a volunteer

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Happy New Year! Many Realtors, myself included, volunteer in the community all throughout the year. We see great value in giving back to and improving our community.

What better time than the start of a brand new year to make a commitment to community.

People often donate items to charitable organizations or give non-perishable food to local food banks, support causes like toy drives or directly give money to a worthy cause.

But even if times are tight and you can’t spare any cash or purchase any items, you can still donate your time. Where would a soup kitchen be without the volunteers who serve the food? Where would an adult-education center be if no one wanted to teach adult-literacy classes?

The point is that you almost certainly have something valuable to contribute, so whether you offer your time, donate items, give money, or do some combination of the three, take a look at the community and identify a need that speaks to you. Then address it.

When it comes right down to it, the reasons to volunteer are very personal. At its root, volunteering involves the desire to help, but it's also an opportunity to step out of one’s self. I have found that when we volunteer, we gain much more from the experience than we give.

Most people volunteer just to help others, but there is nothing wrong with drawing some benefit for yourself, too. Sure, the real beneficiaries of your volunteer work will be those whom you directly help. But there’s more to it than that. In addition to investing in the community, you can also meet people, exchange ideas, get a break from your daily routine, learn valuable new skills and more.

Volunteering also gives you an excellent opportunity to be a positive role model.

People, especially children, follow others’ examples. This can be a great way to teach kids about compassion and the importance of selfless actions.

No one wants to think about themselves being in a rough spot, but the truth is that many people will eventually find themselves in need at some point in their lives. Today you may be the person helping; tomorrow you may find yourself in a position of need.

Throughout the year, please do not forget about these important causes all across our community.

As Realtors we understand the value of a strong community. Nothing adds strength to our city and neighborhoods like involved residents. So, from a quality-of-life perspective, your participation adds value to your community.

Times are tough for those in our community who may be suffering from poor health, the loss of a job, or are still getting back on their feet after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. Everyone’s time is valuable. We all know that. And that’s why I believe wholeheartedly that it’s more important now than ever to offer a helping hand.

As the late President George H.W. Bush once said: “There could be no definition of a successful life that does not include service to others.”

For great ideas on how you can help, check out VolunteerMatch.org. Remember: a community is only as strong as its residents make it.

I wish you and yours the very best in 2019.

Shannon Cobb Evans, with Heritage Texas Properties, is 2019 chair of the Houston Association of Realtors/HAR.com.