METCALF MOVING BLOG
5 Ways to Integrate with the Local Community After Moving to a New City
Moving to an unfamiliar community often means breaking social ties with the people you know. Check out these five ideas to help you integrate with the new community and make a few new friends after a move.
1. Attend community events and activities.
Attending community events is a great way to meet new people and learn about the community after a household move. Look for events that interest you, such as festivals, concerts, or sporting events. Likewise, look for fun activities hosted by local organizations, such as local knitting groups or book clubs hosted by the local library. These activities can be smaller and more intimate but are a great way to mingle with like-minded people and meet new friends.
2. Volunteer your time.
Volunteering is an excellent way to give back to the community and meet new people. Find a cause that you’re passionate about and volunteer your time. Local organizations that often need help from community volunteers include:
- Public libraries – Public libraries often need volunteers to help with groundskeeping, general operations, and hosting free events.
- Local homeless shelters or soup kitchens – Those who serve people in need often need willing volunteers to help with cleaning and daily activities.
- Area animal rescues – Animal rescue organizations and shelters often need help socializing animals, cleaning kennels, and keeping pets fed.
- Public parks – Public parks often ask for volunteers to help with park cleanup and maintenance.
- Local non-profit agencies – Local non-profits often need volunteers to help during events or to handle everyday operations.
3. Join a club or take a class.
If you want to befriend locals who share your interests, signing up for a class or joining a club is a great place to start. Groups and courses can vary by region. However, you can commonly track down groups focusing on particular interests, such as the arts, golfing, or music. You may also find community groups that work together to organize and carry out events, such as festivals or annual luncheons. Other clubs or classes that are often centered around social hobbies include:
- Language-learning groups
- Yoga clubs
- Dance classes
- Writers workshops
- Woodworking groups or classes
4. Get involved in your neighborhood.
Find out if your neighborhood has upcoming hosted events, such as a community garage sale or neighborhood picnic. Make an effort to get involved or at least visit these neighborhood happenings to meet the people who live in your immediate area. You can also get to know your neighbors by organizing an event on your own. For instance, you could organize a cookie swap or backyard barbecue and pass out flyers to invite your neighbors.
5. Visit a city council meeting.
Monthly city council meetings are common and typically held at a local community building. These meetings can be an excellent way to get to know what the locals are concerned about, but they can also be a perfect way to meet other people who live in the community. Sometimes, city council meetings can be a good way to learn about upcoming events you may want to visit.
Let Us Help You Get Settled In
When you are eager to settle into a new community, having professional movers on your side can make a difference. Reach out to get a free moving quote to get started.
