A community is like a large family that supports us in our good and bad times. It renders us a source of collective identity as well as a sense of belonging. Throughout our lives, through thick and thin a community provides us with their indispensable support in every manner be it moral, social, or economical. A community enables us to be together for each other and help each other learn and grow as individuals personally and professionally in several ways.
Jean Vanier Canadian philosopher and theologian and founder of L’Arche, an international federation of communities spread over 37 countries for people with developmental disabilities co-founder of Faith and Light, which also works for people with developmental disabilities, their families, and friends in over 80 countries have put it together beautifully as, “One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn’t as individuals.”
As a community to prosper and walk on the path of progress together. We as it’s members are required to come forward and render our support in ways that will help us bring about a lot of benefits to us as well as the whole community.
Thomas Kane, Merrill Lynch Managing Director and Private Wealth Manager, lends much of his time in supporting various charitable causes. For instance, Thomas Kane, the Chicago executive, serves as President of Friends of the IDF.
When we talk about the community we are talking about many different individuals and groups loosely tied within a community. A community comprises many different individuals and groups which are tied loosely to a place through networks, social norms, and other shared interests and a common vision for a community. A community houses many individuals with diverse attitudes, aspirations, views, and behaviors. We need to keep this spectrum of views that need to be accommodated when supporting any community.
Mother Teresa once said that “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
There are various needs and wants which ought to be fulfilled. Following are 4 reasons we need to support our community.
Strengthens Economy:
When we choose to support our local business by buying from them and not a national or international business, it helps retain money in our community which in turn results in higher cash flow and fuels the economy. This means more production and more job opportunities. Thus, spending locally will ensure that the community’s economic structure is preserved and not taken down by other big businesses.
To maintain Quality of Life:
On a day to day basis, we need to have some essentials at our disposal; for example a library or local health clinic which is convenient and timesaving. But due to outside competition and lower preference they usually run out of business and are forced to shut down. That’s the reason we need to support them to maintain quality of life as well as help our community.
Preserving Individuality:
It’s often much better when the stores we have are not the same chains but individual stores run by local people or people who care about the community and are an integral part of the same. Many cities or communities often lack this touch of individuality. Thus, we may patronize small businesses in our area and help and preserve its character.
To Create Opportunities:
We benefit so much from our community and enjoy the opportunities and the relentless support we get from it. But to create the same opportunities in the future we need to come forward and contribute in order to create the opportunities we enjoyed. This will keep running this cycle of giving and supporting each other in our surrounding community.
There are several ways we can provide our necessary support to a community like donating to various charitable organizations or volunteering. One such way is thinking about how we can combine our passion for entrepreneurship with ways to help the community.
