When it comes to helping the needy, many people say that they will do so “when they have more money”. The truth though, is that there are many ways to help the needy with little to no money at all. Anyone willing to put in some time and effort can begin helping the needy immediately. Here are some suggestions that can help you whether you want to work with a charity or individually.

Organize a Used Clothing Drive

This is especially effective if you belong to a church or a large social organization, but anybody can do it. Get in touch with a charity that provides clothing to those in need. The location is up to you, but it could be anywhere from your hometown to a village in a Third World Country. Find one that makes the delivery/receipt of clothing easy so that you won’t have to pay for it. Then, get a particular date or period of time during which people can donate their clothes. Advertise as much as you can through resources like church bulletins, e-mail, Facebook groups, and organization newsletters. You’ll be amazed how many doors will open to you if you only ask. Once you have the clothes, arrange the pickup with the charity.

Volunteer as a Tutor

Many children in poorer areas don’t get the attention they need either because their parent(s) work or because their classes are overcrowded. Call a local school to see if you can help out. Alternatively, you could put up some signs on bulletin boards offering to help students one-on-one free of charge.

Offer free cooking classes

Childhood obesity is a growing problem, especially in poor areas in which many children never learn to cook and/or have parents who are too busy to cook dinner. Whether you teach adults or children is not nearly as important as that you teach them how to cook healthy meals. Keep in mind the price restrictions on what types of food they can afford, but then you can offer one-on-one cooking classes in your home.

Become a Big Brother/Big Sister

Poverty runs in cycles in many poor areas, and many children never have the opportunity to meet people who are in jobs that pay considerably more than minimum wage. Big Brothers Big Sisters is a fantastic charity that offers kids exposure to worlds beyond their own. Many children find this extremely inspirational, as it gives them hope that they can rise above the socio-economic statuses of their parents.

Become a candy striper

A candy striper volunteers to assist with non-medical needs in hospitals. Poor patients in particular seldom get visitors, and simply stopping in to visit with them can make a huge difference in their day.

Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen

A popular charity option for helping the needy is soup kitchens. If you can afford to contribute to their funding to help them purchase soup, great! If not, they still have a great need for help with the logistics of distribution. Find one near you and see when they’ll next need help.