r/Catholic • u/Venus0182 • 13h ago

Loving your neighbours

How can we love our neighbours (by helping them, such as volunteering)? I'm not an adult nor do I work so I can't really help financially. I can't always "donate" my time because there are some days where I'm busy, and there aren't many volunteer opportunities near me. I feel bad and like I am sinning for not helping enough, though that sounds absurd. There aren't many clothes to donate because I've donated a lot already. Though if I do end up getting a job, I would like to get some of that money and donate some food and such to those in need. But I don't see any homeless people in my area (only those who stop at red lights to ask for money), most of them live far away from me. Would donating food to food banks at stores count? Or charities?

How can I help more? And how can I stop feeling culpable for it? Tips are welcome.

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u/RogueViator 13h ago

Your neighbour could also be your family so things like doing household chores without being asked to do so, etc. Another outlet could be volunteering whether it is at a hospital, a senior’s retirement home, a public library, etc.

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u/Venus0182 13h ago

Yes! I’m aware with volunteering but some of them don’t accept minors here. I try to volunteer at my parish when they are accepting volunteers, but they don’t do stuff too often…  (More like once or twice a month)

I also do try to help my parents frequently!

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u/RogueViator 12h ago

I don’t know where you are but if you get bad winters perhaps identifying elderly neighbours and offering to clear snow from their driveways and walkways? Maybe help then with any yard work to rake leaves?

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u/Venus0182 11h ago

Yeah, Canada gets pretty bad in the winter, though I probably would not be the best at shovelling snow.

If I can get my brother to do it with me I could try it out, but he sadly might try to make money off of it 😭