Many communities are looking and feeling a little worse for wear. As we spend more time outside, there are plenty of simple things to do to freshen up your local area. Grab a buddy or spread the word, here are three ways to bring your community together and help it shine:

Add some style
While it won’t solve all of society’s ills, adding some visual cheer to a place can go a long way towards boosting how we feel about it. Maybe paint a mural on your back fence or garage or get the right permits and neighbour go-ahead to commission a masterpiece on a tired public wall. Adding solar lights to pathways at your home or street corner can also create a friendly, safe ambience.

Share your skills
Are you handy around the house or good with tools? Consider volunteering to help your neighbours with pesky tasks like lawncare or small repairs and keep the neighbourhood looking sharp. Maybe they’ll repay you with their excellent home baking. If you’re the one with the skill in the kitchen, consider pitching in at a bake sale or community dinner to fundraise for new infrastructure around town. Swap gardening tips too, so you can all enjoy lush greenery in your neighbourhood.

Make an event out of it
Cleaning up litter may not be a typical day out, but it can be a great way to spruce up a public space. Cigarette butts are a particular eyesore and are one of the most littered items in the world. While most parts of a cigarette butt are biodegradable, they don’t just fade away. Taking part in a cleanup, like an Unsmoke Canada event, goes a long way to making your community look and feel better. And, before a cigarette butt hits the ground, remember that they can be properly disposed of in a designated municipal bin.

Find more information about cleanups at unsmoke.ca/community-initiatives