75 ways to build and improve your community

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Monday, Dec. 28, 2015 | 2 a.m.

There are countless ways, big and small, each of us can make Southern Nevada a better place to live, work and play.

Many don’t cost much, in time or in money. Some take barely any effort at all. A good number benefit the donor as much as the recipient.

The Las Vegas Valley already is a wonderful place to call home. But if each of us strived to make it just a little bit better, imagine how phenomenal our community could be.

1. Mentor a child.

bbbsn.org, 702-731-2227

Touch a young life by volunteering as a Big Brother or Big Sister. The program aims to nurture young people who lack strong role models. It takes a commitment of only a few hours a month, and you have the opportunity to shape a child’s future for the better. Boys are particularly in need of mentors. Nationally, there are double the number of boys waiting for a Big Brother than girls waiting for a Big Sister.

2. Paint a mural (with permission, of course!) on a vacant building or plant a community garden.

3. Get to know your neighbors. Getting to know those who live near you not only makes for a happier neighborhood but a safer one.

4. Compliment someone.

5. Register to be an organ donor.

6. Vote.

7. Recycle.

8. Spay or neuter your pets.

9. Were you treated well by a service repairman, a hotel check-in clerk or a food server? Drop his or her boss a note offering the person an accolade. People complain a lot; they don’t often share kudos.

10. Don’t drink and drive.

11. Pull weeds from a neighbor’s yard, a public right-of-way or a community green space.

12. Give the gift of conversation. If you see a senior citizen sitting alone on a bench or someone looking bored, strike up a conversation.

13. Attend a charity gala. Dress fancy, sip cocktails, enjoy top-notch food and hobnob — all while helping a worthy organization. It’s a win-win.

14. Thank a first responder. The next time you see a police officer, firefighter or EMT, share your appreciation.

15. Tip generously, if you can. That extra $5 could make a big difference in someone’s life.

16. Mow your neighbor’s lawn or distribute leaf bags to homes on your block.

17. Lend a hand at a library.

[email protected]

Library volunteers cut paper, clean books, help keep the library tidy and answer patrons’ questions. To get involved, call your local branch.

18. Shop local. Keep your dollars in the Southern Nevada community to help homegrown businesses flourish.

19. Start a virtual conversation about an issue you are passionate about. Post and share information on social media about a cause or organization close to your heart.

20. Volunteer at your church, temple, mosque or house of worship.

21. Be patient. Smile.

22. Collect food about to be discarded from grocery stores or restaurants — pick up pastries from Starbucks or produce from Smith’s, for example — then distribute it to the homeless or hungry.

23. Lend your professional skills. A chef can teach young people how to cook. A salon worker can give makeovers to women with cancer. An HR exec can help unemployed workers write resumes.

24. Coach a youth sports team.

25. Stand up for someone who is being bullied.

26. Preserve state wildlife

ndow.org, 702-486-5127 or 702-486-6742

The Nevada Department of Wildlife volunteer program gives people with a passion for the outdoors a chance to get involved and learn about local habitats. Take part in fish sampling, archery and hunter education, school visits or fly-tying classes. Volunteers must be 18 or older, provide their own transportation, complete at least 40 service hours annually and submit monthly reports.

27. Prevent a senior from being scammed

lvmpd.com, 702-828-5609

Metro Police and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office need volunteers to teach senior citizens about telemarketing and medicare fraud. Southern Nevada Advocates on Guard are trained to give presentations on ways to prevent identity theft, be safe at home and identify telemarketing scams.

28. Keep a kid in school

ccsd.net, 702-799-6560

The Clark County School District’s Stay in School Mentoring Program matches professionals with middle-school students who are at risk of dropping out. Mentors encourage students to stay in school and promote future education and career focus. Volunteers are asked to make a yearlong commitment to provide one-on-one mentorship.

29. Promote the arts

lasvegascac.org

The Contemporary Arts Center is nonprofit and run by volunteers, with the mission of helping artists and the general community create, experience and learn about artistic and cultural expression. Volunteers become immersed in all aspects of running an arts exhibition space, from arts administration to exhibition programming to grant writing to working as gallery docents.

30. Help a tourist in need

Answer a question. Give directions. Recommend a restaurant. The 40 million-plus people who visit Las Vegas every year are our community’s economic lifeblood. Treat them right. Go above and beyond as an ambassador for our city, so perhaps they tell their family and friends how warm and helpful Las Vegans are.

31. Lend a hand to a senior citizen

hhovv.org, 702-633-7264

Being away from home and family can be lonely. Bring a smile to a senior’s face by visiting or volunteering at a senior center or nursing home. Or simply help a senior citizen in your neighborhood with household chores or running errands. Helping Hands of Vegas Valley and Helping Hands of Henderson also need volunteers to drive seniors to appointments or do phone check-ins.

32. Advocate for survivors of sexual assault

rcclv.org, 702-385-2153

The Rape Crisis Center trains advocates to answer calls to the organization’s 24/7 hotline and respond to survivors of sexual assault at hospitals. The job isn’t for everyone, but those who volunteer feel a profound sense of pride knowing they are providing a service to someone at such a challenging and vulnerable time in their life. Training typically lasts 50 hours, and applicants must go through an interview, criminal background check, drug test and immunization.

33. Donate diapers

facebook.com/LVDiaperBank, 702-462-1718

A new nonprofit, Las Vegas Diaper Bank, is working to collect 30,000 diapers for local families in need. Drop off a pack, host a diaper drive or make a monetary donation.

34. Adopt a stray.

35. Fight cancer

pancan.org, komensouthernnevada.org, freetobreathe.org

There are many ways you can support the local fight against cancer. Host a PurpleLight event, in which people light purple glow sticks while survivors’ and victims’ names are read aloud, to bring awareness to pancreatic cancer. Attend the Rodney Strong Wine Dinner and auction on Jan. 24 at Todd’s Unique Dining in Henderson to contribute to breast cancer research. Or register for the inaugural Lung Cancer 5K Run/Walk scheduled for April 23 at Sunset Park.

36. Hold the door open for a stranger.

37. Save a tortoise

tortoisegroup.org

Tortoise Group volunteers try to improve the lives of desert tortoises, both in the wild and those kept as pets. Volunteers can sell or deliver tortoise food, raise funds, do public presentations, conduct yard visits or work on brochures and care booklets.

38. Become a foster parent

[email protected], 702-455-0181

About 3,000 Clark County children live in foster care, and the Department of Family Services always is looking for adults willing to be supportive caretakers. To learn more about becoming a foster parent, attend an information session at Child Haven, 701 N. Pecos Road, Las Vegas. Sessions are 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month and 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Saturday of each month.

39. Limit your water use

We live in a desert and are in the midst of a drought. We need to conserve water resources. Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth. Set a timer for your showers. Plant desert landscaping that doesn’t require much water. Install a low-flow toilet.

40. Fight ALS

alsa.org,, 702-777-0500

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Help fight the disease by donating to the ALS Association Nevada Chapter to support research into a cure or by volunteering to do administrative work, organize mailings, work with patients or help at events.

41. Give blood

unitedbloodservices.org/lv, 877-827-4376

One pint of blood, the average donation, can save up to three lives. United Blood Services operates three year-round donor centers in the valley and conducts numerous community blood drives. There are events scheduled for Dec. 29 at Summerlin Library, Jan. 1 at the Rio and Jan. 2 at Sam’s Town.

42. Hire someone

progressivechoices.org, 702-248-9484

About 3 percent of Southern Nevada residents are intellectually challenged. Progressive Choices Inc. helps people with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and other disabilities learn skills, find work and contribute to the valley’s business community. If you’ve got a job opening, call the agency to see if one of their clients might be a fit. Or make a donation to allow the nonprofit to continue training people and covering their hiring costs and employee benefits. On average, it costs about $93 per person per day for vocational training, only $43 of which is covered by the state.

43. Organize a canned food drive

vegasrescue.org, 702-382-1766

catholiccharities.com, 702-385-2662

Whether at work, school or your house of worship, it’s easy to coordinate a canned food drive for those less fortunate. About 15 percent of valley residents suffer from food insecurity, meaning they lack access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle. About 40 percent of those individuals are children. There are several food pantries throughout the valley, such as Las Vegas Rescue Mission and Catholic Charities, that collect food for the hungry and donations from the generous.

44. Form or participate in a neighborhood watch.

45. Keep our streets clean

If you see trash on the ground, pick it up and put it in a garbage can. Find out more about litter pick-up efforts by contacting the city of Las Vegas’ Keep Las Vegas Beautiful program at 702-229-5406.

46. Assemble sack lunches for homeless kids

nphy.org, 702-383-1332

Every Thursday, volunteers with the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth assemble sack lunches to be distributed to thousands of homeless youths in Southern Nevada. The organization provides a supply list and volunteers buy the items, then assemble the lunches between 4 and 5:30 p.m. Four or five volunteers are needed for each session.

47. Read to a child

spreadthewordnevada.org, 702-564-7809

Grab a book to share with your son, daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew or neighbor. Or become a Spread the Word Nevada mentor and volunteer as a reading companion for at-risk students at local elementary schools.

48. Get immunized

southernnevadahealthdistrict.org, 702-759-1000

When more people in a community are vaccinated against contagious diseases, there’s less of a chance for outbreaks. Immunization also helps protect a community’s most vulnerable residents, such as infants and people with compromised immune systems. Help create herd immunity by getting a flu shot and vaccinating your children. Flu shots are available at the following Southern Nevada Health District clinics:

Southern Nevada Health District Main Facility

330 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas

Open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

East Las Vegas Public Health Center

560 N. Nellis Blvd., Suite D-1, Las Vegas

Open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Henderson Public Health Center

520 E. Lake Mead Parkway, Henderson

Open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

49. Help a sick veteran

lasvegas.va.gov, 702-791-9134

Volunteers provide many important functions at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center and help make patients’ stays more enjoyable. Drive veterans receiving chemotherapy or dialysis to treatment. Dispatch drivers to where they are needed. Staff an information desk, answer phones or greet patients.

50. Be kind. To everyone ­— strangers, employees, loved ones, colleagues, bosses, friends and family. The world could always use a little more good will.

51. Bring sports or music into a child’s life

strongarmfoundation.org, 702-727-1456, ext. 801

Extracurricular activities can be prohibitively expensive. The Strong ARM Foundation eliminates that financial burden for low-income families. Donations pay for enrollment and uniform fees for underprivileged children to participate in arts, recreational and multicultural activities.

52. Provide independence

blindcenter.org, 702-642-6000

The Blind Center of Nevada helps people who are blind or visually impaired reach their highest physical, social, intellectual and economic potential. The organization offers music, arts and fitness programs, as well as Braille classes, counseling, field trips and mobility training. Get involved by fundraising, volunteering or advocating for the visually impaired. If you are a business owner or executive, inquire about a corporate partnership.

53. Give to or volunteer with the United Way of Southern Nevada

uwsn.org, 702-892-2300

Working with 20,000 donors, 6,500 volunteers, 400 agencies and 300 companies, the local United Way chapter helps one in four members of the community.

54. Give hope

link2hope.org, 702-566-0576

Hope Link of Southern Nevada, nicknamed “Henderson’s charity,” recently won an Outstanding Nonprofit Organization award from the Henderson Chamber of Commerce. The agency’s mission is to build a better community by preventing homelessness, keeping families intact and promoting self-sufficiency. Volunteer year-round by mentoring a family involved with the child welfare system, join the Breakfast Bookworm team to distribute food and books for children, or help plan back-to-school events. Also, Feb. 27 is the agency’s largest fundraiser, an interactive evening of performance art, caricatures, photography and celebrity quick draws. Tickets cost $50.

55. Be a miracle maker

miracleflights.org, 702-261-0494

Founded in 1985, Miracle Flights assures families with limited financial resources that their sick child is not without options. The organization provides air travel assistance to children in need of out-of-state medical care or second opinions, at no cost and as many times as necessary. To date, Miracle Flights has coordinated more than 96,000 flights comprising 50 million miles of air travel. A donation of 78 cents allows a child to fly 1 mile.

56. Help in a crisis

lvmpd.com, 702-828-5609

Support first responders in emergency situations, help victims and organize volunteers at disaster sites as a member of Metro Police’s Community Emergency Response Team. Or help with nonemergency projects to improve safety in the community.

57. Wipe out graffiti

clarkcountynv.gov, 702-455-4509

If you see graffiti, report it to the Southern Nevada Graffiti Hotline. You may be eligible to receive free paint and removal materials. If you see someone in the act of tagging, Metro recommends calling 911 as opposed to confronting the vandal.

58. Donate to public radio or television

vegaspbs.org, knpr.org

Nevada Public Radio and Vegas PBS can use donations year-round, not just during pledge drives. Gifts help the entire community benefit from educational programming, local news coverage, talk shows on Nevada issues and more.

59. Support the Boy Scouts

lvacbsa.org, 702-736-4366

Become a Friend of Scouting by donating to the Boy Scouts Las Vegas Area Council. A donation of $160 covers the cost of council services for one scout for a year, but smaller donations are welcome. The Boy Scouts of America offers character, citizenship and fitness training for boys.

60. Pitch in at the Henderson Pavilion

cityofhenderson.com, 702-267-4849

Become a guest-services volunteer at the Henderson Pavilion, taking tickets, answering questions and working as an usher or host. The pavilion provides a broad demographic of patrons affordable opportunities to see bands, plays, ballets and operas.

61. Send a letter or care package to a soldier overseas.

62. Comfort someone

nah.org, 702-733-0320

Whether offering companionship to patients and their families or providing administrative support, Nathan Adelson Hospice volunteers significantly affect the lives of the people they encounter. The hospice has more than 320 active volunteers in the Las Vegas Valley, but additional help always is needed. Become a support volunteer for patients, drive people to appointments, staff booths at community events, assist with paperwork or help with pet therapy, aromatherapy or massage therapy. Anyone 13 or older can get involved.

63. Report an abandoned car

lvmpd.com, 702-455-8697

Local police area command offices receive 100 to 125 reports of abandoned vehicles each month. That’s important because if abandoned vehicles aren’t removed in a timely manner, criminals may think no one is taking care of the neighborhood, and police say that leads to an increase in graffiti, vandalism and burglaries.

64. Say goodbye to clothes that no longer work for you

dressforsuccesssouthernnevada.org, 702-684-6412

Dress for Success Southern Nevada provides women with professional clothing to go on job interviews. If the woman lands a job, the nonprofit gives her even more outfits to wear to work. Donate new or like-new suits, blouses, purses, accessories, dress pants, dress skirts and shoes. The group also collects new hosiery, undergarments and makeup. Just be sure donated items are current, appropriate for an interview, on hangers and have been dry-cleaned or cleaned and pressed. After all, the ladies want to make a great first impression.

65. Feed someone

threesquare.org, 702-644-3663

While shopping for groceries, pick up extra rice, pasta or cheese to drop off at Three Square Food Bank. A little extra effort can help fight hunger in Southern Nevada. Other needed items include canned soup, dried and canned beans, and canned meats such as tuna, chicken, ham and Spam.

66. Help a garden grow

vegasroots.org, 702-636-4152

Organizers of the Vegas Roots Community Garden, an urban farm near downtown Las Vegas, want to reach a larger audience. They need volunteers who are savvy with social media, graphic design, writing, photography, editing and video to create short posts, viral images and any other media that attracts attention and visitors to the nonprofit group’s Facebook, YouTube and Google Plus pages. Not a web pro? There’s also plenty of room for people to help in the garden, pulling weeds, composting and landscaping.

67. Feed the homeless

theshadetree.org, 702-385-0072

Grab an apron and a hair net, and head to the kitchen of the Shade Tree homeless shelter. The shelter, which houses homeless and abused women and children, provides daily meals for its guests. While you are there, drop off a package of women’s or children’s underwear, toiletries, bottled water, bath towels, bed sheets or feminine hygiene products. All are urgently needed by residents of the shelter.

68. Tutor someone who needs help learning English.

69. Support a servicemember

nellissupportteam.com, 702-836-3798

Invite a military worker from Nellis Air Force Base to join you for a meal, donate to a struggling military family (many live paycheck to paycheck) or adopt the family of a servicemember killed on duty. Operation Warm Heart can connect you to Nellis employees in need.

70. Carpool. Be considerate of other drivers.

71. Shelter someone

lasvegashabitat.org, 702-638-6477

Habitat for Humanity needs volunteer labor and donations to fulfill a number of needs, from building houses to cleaning and preparing items to sell in its ReStore home improvement thrift shop. The store, which sells new and used furniture, appliances, home accessories and building materials, also needs volunteers to help drivers with pickups and deliveries. Meanwhile, a donation of as little as $10 can make a difference — it’s enough to buy a box of nails.

72. Foster a pet

animalfoundation.com, 702-384-3333

Providing a foster home for underage, sick or injured animals allows them time to grow or heal until they can be adopted. The Animal Foundation maintains an up-to-date list online of pets that can be fostered. Pets typically remain with a foster family for two weeks to two months, although the time commitment can be longer. Foster parents must be at least 18, able to provide a safe and stable home, and have written approval from their landlord, if applicable.

73. Pick up the bill for a stranger

At a restaurant, ice cream shop or coffee house. Ask the server or cashier to tell the recipient to pass on the favor.

74. Fight AIDS

afanlv.org, 702-382-2326

There are a number of ways to help Aid for AIDS of Nevada achieve its goals. Raise money or host a special event. Clean patients’ homes or let them bend your ear. If you are living with HIV or AIDS, join the Find a Cure Panel. AFAN will send you surveys about medications; each time you turn in a completed survey, AFAN receives at least $25 for its programs.

75. Volunteer with the Girl Scouts

girlscoutsnv.org, 702-385-3677

Whether you can spare only a few hours or can commit more time, the Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada has a number of ways to help. Become a troop leader; coordinate annual cookie sales; organize adult volunteers, or help girls explore nature as a camp volunteer.