When it comes to giving back to the community, helping a local non-profit organization is much easier than you may realize. Although non-profits do need funding, not everyone can make regular donations. Here are a few other ways you can help.

1.) Eat and shop at places connected with non-profits: Many companies work with non-profit organizations on a regular basis. Next time you go to the grocery store, keep an eye out for the logo of your favorite organization. Many times by purchasing a particular product, a portion of the proceeds goes to charity (i.e. offers at BunchBite.com) or a simple act helps contribute (i.e. saving and mailing in yogurt lids for Yoplait’s Save Lids to Save Lives campaign). Shopping at stores affiliated with charities and purchasing products that make automatic contributions are great ways to help a good cause without changing your budget.

2.) Double check your trash: What is useless to you and your family may be extremely valuable to a non-profit organization. If your favorite organization runs a regular food drive or soup kitchen, donate non-perishable foods. While cleaning out your cabinets, gather all unwanted canned goods and bring them to a local shelter. Soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and food drives usually need non-edible items as well (i.e. paper towels and silverware). There are also organizations such as Goodwill and The Salvation Army that accept donations of common household items. Before you assume something belongs in the dumpster, check with one of these organizations to see if they could use it. For example, old clothing and furniture are extremely valuable to these organizations.

3.) Become a volunteer: Time is often even harder to spare than money, but if you have extra use it to volunteer. Call your favorite non-profit organization and ask them what you can do to help. Even an hour a week can make a difference in someone’s life.

4.) Raise Awareness: If you truly feel that you have absolutely nothing worth donating and not a second to spare, you can still help by telling others about important organizations. Many non-profit organizations exist without much recognition. If people do not know about group, it is difficult for that organization to accomplish anything. Tell your friends and family about the great things your favorite association does for the community. The more people who know about a non-profit organization, the more likely that organization is to receive donations and volunteers.

So next time you get the urge to give back, remember that you don’t have to make a huge donation to be helpful. Everything from buying the right groceries to updating your Facebook status can make a difference.