May 1, 2020

3 Easy Ways to Volunteer Your Time Right Now

It’s times like these when we feel most compelled to help. But with the need for self-quarantine and social distancing, the standard, go-to options to volunteer our time aren’t an option. So, what can we do? With many of us watching our spending, offering big cash donations to charities may not be possible. But that doesn’t mean we can’t contribute some goodness to our communities.

Here are three ways you can make a positive difference in your free time.

1. Give blood.

Despite these uncertain times, the need for blood, blood platelets, and plasma donations remains constant. “As part of our nation’s critical infrastructure, healthy individuals can still donate in areas that have issued shelter in place declarations,” shared the American Red Cross . “The Red Cross follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and volunteer donors are the only source of blood for those in need.” Appointments to donate blood can be scheduled online. Remember, volunteering one hour of your free time could literally save someone’s life.

2. Post positive online reviews for local businesses.

Ensuring the health and safety of people around us is important. But our local businesses have suffered a major financial hit as a result of those restrictions. If you have money to spend, it’s easy to support local businesses by shopping where possible.

But another way to pay it forward is to share an online review about the positive experience you encountered at a local business or restaurant. Hey, we could all use some good news, and posting helpful tips, sharing favorite dishes, or raving about some exemplary service is greatly appreciated by merchants.

3. Make homemade face masks

They are easy to make, essential to slowing the spread of contagious diseases, and in short supply. As the need for face masks extends beyond hospital corridors and into public life, people are discovering that medical face masks are getting harder and harder to find. Fortunately, sewing face masks is easy , and it’s a great way to do your part to support current health strategies.

With the current situation taking on global proportions, it’s sometimes hard to believe that we can do something in an hour or a day that could make an impact—but we can. These three ideas prove that the best gift you can give to others in need is yourself.

Improve Your VIP Experience: Flexible Ways to Pay Rent and Build Credit at Sherwood

April 20, 2026
At  Sherwood  , we are committed to providing our VIPs with the best tools to manage their apartment homes effortlessly. We want to highlight the various ways you can handle your monthly rent, including some exciting benefits that help you build your financial future just by living with us. 1. The AppFolio Resident Portal App The easiest way to manage your living experience is through the AppFolio app. It is a one-stop shop for your most frequent needs: Convenient Payments: Set up one-time or automatic payments using a bank account (e-check), credit card, or debit card. Split Payments with Flex: We have integrated Flex directly into your AppFolio app. This service allows you to split your rent into two payments throughout the month. Flex pays your rent to us in full and on time, while you pay them back on a schedule that fits your cash flow. Full Transparency: View your current balance, previous statements, and full payment history anytime. 2. Build Your Credit for Free with Pinata Your consistent rent payments should work for you. We are proud to offer Free Positive Rent Payment Reporting to major credit bureaus through our partner, Pinata. How it works: You will receive an email invitation from Pinata to sign up for this service. Once you are enrolled, your on-time payments are reported to the credit bureaus. The Benefit: This helps you build your credit score over time without any extra cost. It is our way of rewarding your reliability and helping you reach your long-term financial goals. (Please note: we do not utilize any resident reward or marketplace features through Pinata; this service is strictly for your credit reporting benefit.) 3. More Ways the App Helps You Beyond payments, the AppFolio app remains your primary tool for staying connected with our Bellflower community. You can: Submit Maintenance Requests: Easily upload photos and descriptions of any needed repairs. Manage Renter's Insurance: Access your policy or update your provider details. Stay Informed: Contact the office via text or phone, update your contact preferences, and access your lease documents. At  Sherwood  , we treat every resident like a VIP. Whether you are looking for more flexibility with Flex or looking to boost your credit score through Pinata, we are here to support your lifestyle.
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