At Central Bank, we’re looking forward and outward to our communities in the New Year, helping where we can with the skills and resources we’re lucky to have. Join us in making a difference in 2019.

Here are a few ideas and resources to get you started.

1. Volunteer your time.
   Most people don’t quite know where to start when they’re looking for volunteer opportunities. Reading your local paper is a great way to get an idea of what’s going on in your community and where your time and skills might be of use. Once you’ve identified a few local organizations and groups of interest, follow them on their social media to receive updates on events and other opportunities to help. And, be sure to reach out to them by sending a message or making a phone call. A lot of organizations need volunteers and would be happy to hear from you!
    
2. Join a service organization.
   Seek out a local chapter of a service club like Kiwanis, Rotary or Lions Club. Not only will you work together as a group to raise money and help others, you will meet people with goals and interests similar to yours, like making a difference in your community!
    
3. Read to a child.
   Children who are read to experience substantial benefits. They recognize letters of the alphabet, count to twenty and write their own names sooner than children who are not read to. And, they develop stronger reading skills, overall. Great resources for volunteer reading programs include websites like reachoutandread.org, readingpartners.org or readingtokids.org, as well as your local library. Of course, if you have children at home, it’s never too late to crack open a good book and spend some quality reading time together!
    
4. Budget for charity.
   Whether donating $10 from every paycheck to your favorite cause or setting a goal to buy a hungry person a meal each week, try to make charitable acts a part of your budget when you’re planning ahead for 2019. You can get creative with budgeting for charity and tailor the concept to your financial situation and to your community. You’ve heard it a million times, but it’s true: every little bit helps!
    
5. Let people know you care.
   Write a heartfelt thank you note, fill out a glowing survey for a customer service worker or check in on a friend you haven’t heard from in a while. All these are easy examples of telling someone you care about them. Or, maybe you already do these sorts of things and you already know how kind habits can improve your quality and enjoyment of life. In which case, keep it up! Kindness never goes out of style.

Let’s work together to make 2019 the year of making a difference, both for your community as a whole and for the people you encounter in your day-to-day life. As we love to say at Central Bank, make it happen!