Be a Community Contributor
Learn from real-life helpers.
When Laura Ingalls and her family moved to De Smet, South Dakota, in 1879, they were
some of the town’s earliest residents. In
,
you read how almost 150 years later,
the people of De Smet still work to
make their town a good place to live.
What’s Going Down in Laura’s Town?
God made people to live in community—that is, with other people. He gives
us opportunities to help each other. Most of the time, the people you can help
best are your neighbors. (And who are your neighbors? Jesus answers that
question with the parable of the Good Samaritan. Read Luke 10:25-36.)
God’s WORLD News reporter Anna Smith asked three people what
they do to contribute to their community.
Click on their pictures
to learn more.
Matt Barker is a real estate agent who lives in Swannanoa,
North Carolina. This community isn’t an incorporated town,
so it doesn’t have elected officials. Mr. Barker is the
chairman of Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa (FANS).
That group helps keep residents informed with a
newsletter. It organizes events to bring them together. In
2024, Hurricane Helene brought intense flooding. The
storm destroyed many homes and businesses. Mr. Barker,
along other volunteers, cleaned up debris. They asked
lawmakers for help to rebuild their community.
Click here
to see some of
the books the
book club
has read.
Chelsea Boes is the editor of
WORLDkids and lives in Old Fort,
North Carolina. She and her husband
have often hosted book clubs for
adults. She says those gatherings
have helped them make lifelong
friends. So when their eight-year-old
daughter asked if she could start a
book club, Mrs. Boes knew they had
to make it happen. Usually about eight
to 10 kids come, sometimes with a
younger sibling or two. First they play
together. Then they eat spaghetti
or enchiladas while Mrs. or
Mr. Boes reads aloud. Three
years later, Mrs. Boes says
that most of the same kids
are still coming.
Bravery Boes is 10 years
old. Her grandmother helps
with a food bank called
Base Camp in Marion,
North Carolina. A friend of
Bravery’s volunteered there
too. After hearing about
the food bank from them,
Bravery started going with
her grandmother to help,
especially during summer
break. The volunteers
stock shelves with
food on Tuesdays.
On Thursdays, they
hand out the food.
Click the play button to hear
Mr. Barker talk about cleaning
up after Hurricane Helene.
Click here
to hear Mrs.
Boes talk
about how
book clubs
help build
community.
Click the play
button to hear
why Bravery
volunteers.
These aren’t the only
ways to contribute to
your community, of
course. Here’s the big
question to figure out:
What’s one thing your community needs help with?
Mrs. Boes’ advice?
“Get your parents
on your team,” she
says. “Explain to
them why you think
it’s important
for your community.”
Here are a few other ideas:
Do you have a neighbor who needs some extra help?
Maybe there’s an older couple or a family that just had a
baby. They might appreciate it if you helped with pulling
weeds, raking leaves, or shoveling snow. You might even
offer to entertain their family dog so they can rest or care
for the baby.
Plant a garden. You can brighten your neighbors’ day with
flowers or vegetables.
Help raise money for a project you think will help others.
Maybe that’s through holding a yard or bake sale or
setting up a lemonade stand.
Get an adult and a group of friends together to
pick up litter in your neighborhood or at a park.
Click the play button to hear
Bravery’s thoughts on why
you might want to volunteer
at your local food bank.