Raising women’s voices is vital to the health and well-being of your community and the world. As a small business owner, you hold a strategic position of being  both locally and globally minded, specifically by using your talents and resources to impact your city and care for others—especially those who may not have a voice.

For those of you who operate exclusively within a specific geographic range, you are dependent on that local economy. Because you have unique traits that make you integral to your respective region, you will find there is a mutually beneficial relationship: your community supports your business, therefore  you give back to your community.

As a small business owner, you spend so much time building your business in that community, so why shouldn’t you support it and help it shine? To maximize the value of this dynamic liaison, you may think that donating money to local charities is the perfect way to give back to your local community. And while that may be true, it’s not the only way. Here are three strategies you can use this season!

Attend local events and be an active participant

Participating in local events is a great way to get involved with your community and learn about the many needs of its residents while gaining brand recognition. You’ve probably heard the real estate agent’s mantra, “location, location, location.” Which means, homes can experience large increases or decreases in value simply due to their location. The same principle can be applied to your business when you substitute that mantra with “network, network, network.”

All cities have street fairs, farmer’s markets festivals, parades, neighborhood gatherings, school events, etc. By participating in them or simply  walking around and talking to people you are engaging in your community.

Never underestimate the power of networking. Cross networking with other companies in similar industries  presents equal opportunity for two or more companies with the same objectives, beliefs, and causes. For instance, if you’re the owner of a coffee shop, why not partner with a local writer’s group that wants to connect writers with writers? Writerslove coffee, so your place presents  the perfect match and a win-win situation!

Take a note from Amazon, the top e-commerce platform in the country.  They have formed incredible partnerships with other giant companies, such as Nike, for obvious reasons. Through the Amazon Literacy Partnership (ALP), they also have committed to ensuring all children and young adults, especially those from underrepresented and underprivileged communities who reside in areas where they have a physical presence, have the resources and skills needed to build their best and brightest futures.

For nearly a decade, ALP has supported scores of nonprofit literary organizations that have helped many thousands of writers across the United States including writing centers, small publishers, literary magazines, translation programs, and national organizations that champion storytelling and free speech.

So, as you think of things that matter most to you and to your company, focus on building long-term relationships with other companies and innovative programs that will have a lasting, positive impact in your community and around the world.

Host a food or essentials supply drive 

You might be balancing multiple jobs or responsibilities at any given time, but you can always find time to volunteer for a charity or nonprofit organization, or even host your own food drive.

If you can’t host your own event, volunteering for charities and organizations is a  great way to bring hope and happiness to families in need. Whether you decide to do it year-round or just during the holiday season, hosting an event or volunteering helps others and gives you a great way to  meet people in your community.

Offer your skills

Being part of something that’s bigger than yourself brings you happiness in life. I’m presently helping with a new group called Calvary Women Creatives. Though we have only met once, it has proven that my vocation is my true calling—to be a writer, to help other writers tell their stories, and to help them find their readers. Every day, I look to find organizations that share my obsession with empowering writers to write, so that they can  impact and give back to their communities and beyond.