A healthcare community is only as strong as its members, and its members are only as strong as the support they receive from each other. This is a core reality for the Liberty HealthShare community, and one that our ministry takes very seriously! While Liberty HealthShare members are parts of a greater whole, they are also members of their unique local communities. We have members from all over, and as such we all experience different challenges, and opportunities, when it comes to promoting health for those around us.
As we kick off the summer, let’s take a broad look at some of the ways you can be a force for good pertaining to healthcare in your local community!
June 14th is World Blood Donor Day. Even in times without dire straits, such as a natural disaster, communities constantly require a steady supply of blood donations for a variety of medical procedures. If you’re able to, giving blood is often an easy (and rewarding) action to assist those in your community! A single instance of blood donation can save up to three lives! The Red Cross has no shortage of blood drives that you can participate in, so if this is something that you’re interested in to help your community look for upcoming dates at colleges, hospitals, non-profits, and more!
Maybe it doesn’t sound like the most fun to some of you, but assisting in research is the way that our understanding of health and treatment is advanced and improved for all of us. There isn’t a definite form that these studies take, either. Look into local hospitals, universities, and non-profits to see if there’s a medical study that you could participate in. In addition to helping hardworking researchers gain meaningful data for future advancements, you can often be compensated in some way for your time. Helping those around you and possibly getting a little change in your pocket? Sounds like a win-win to me!
Volunteering doesn’t just happen at your local foodbank or library. There are ways you can volunteer specifically for healthcare-related needs! A great first step is to contact your local hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and non-profits to find out what opportunities are available for you to donate your time. Whatever your skills and passions are there is likely an opportunity for you! Just a few of the ways healthcare volunteering can manifest are assisting with administrative tasks, providing support to clinics, assisting with activities in a nursing home, or supporting disaster relief efforts with trustworthy organizations.
Nutritional health is analogous to nutritional wealth! As far back as World War 2 Americans were encouraged to grow their own gardens. While the needs now differ in 2025 from 1943, the benefits of improving your community with a garden remain the same! Not only do you create a beautiful green space for folks to learn and enjoy, but you also now get to help provide those in your community, some of whom may not have easy access to, delicious and fresh produce! The benefits of having vegetables in your diet are well documented, so this seems like an easy way to make where you live a healthier, and better, place!
This final point may take a little bit more effort, but the results are worth it. Theologian Frederick Buechner is perhaps most famous for saying, “Vocation is the place where our deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.” When considering how to help your local community to be healthier, ask yourself where your deep gladness resides. Is it found in something that we’ve discussed already? Or is it something that we haven’t explored in this article? Once you know the answer to that question, you must identify your community’s needs. The sad reality is that it isn’t hard to find areas where our communities need support! Finally, once these two facets are in place, explore the local organizations in your community that are seeking to meet these needs and get involved! This is a step beyond volunteering your time one weekend, but consequently the rewards are great! Christ taught us in the Gospel of Matthew that “Just as you did to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did to me.” Find where your talents serve a need of those near you and get involved in community wellness programs!