As we look around the world, it’s easy to see vitriol and division. However each one of us- through small acts of generosity – can change our society and change our world. It starts with you. Just one act of kindness a day can not only reduce your stress and anxiety, it can improve the well-being of the person you were kind to and inspire everyone who witnessed the act of kindness. This GivingTuesday is a great day to commit to giving kindness!
- Go to a dog park and pass out dog treats.
- Beautify a corner of your neighborhood by planting flowers or cleaning up.
- Pay for the coffee or meal of the person behind you in line.
- Shovel snow for a senior.
- Making a pot of chili? Ask your neighbor if they want some.
- Visit a neighborhood you’ve never been to before. Talk to someone who doesn’t look like you and try to find something you have in common.
- Plan a neighborhood block party so everyone can get to know one another.
- Bring popsicles to a park on a hot day.
- Have an old cellphone? Give it to a homeless person. It can be a lifeline.
- Donate your old laptop or computer to a STEM school or nonprofit.
- Organize a school supply drive for a local low-income school.
- Pay someone’s library fees.
- Pay for the outstanding lunch fees at a school.
- Donate old books that aren’t being used to a literacy program, library, or school.
- Become a “Big Brother” or “Big Sister.”
- Find a Little Free Library in your community and drop off some books.
- Bring your extras from Costco to your local community fridge or Little Free Pantry.
- Organize a Free Store in your neighborhood.
- Plant a community garden.
- Choose to shop from underrepresented business owners.
- Ask for donations instead of birthday gifts.
- Pick up trash in your neighborhood with a group of friends.
- Write to someone you haven’t spoken to in awhile.
- Make a busy bag for a family with young children.
- Thank your sanitation workers and delivery drivers.
- Paint rocks with kind messages and leave them all over town.
- Bring a meal to a family with a new baby.
- Leave a basket of essentials and surprises on the doorstep of someone you know is struggling.
- Write kind notes and leave them all over the neighborhood.
- Fill tote bags with feminine hygiene products, soap, toothbrush/toothpaste, underwear, socks, and essentials and give them to people who need them.
- Keep a case of water, granola bars, and socks in your car to give to people.
- Make sacked lunches and give them to anyone who wants one.
- Sign up for bystander intervention training.
- Publicly acknowledge the accomplishment of someone who deserves more recognition.
- Share a positive review of a small business on Yelp or Google.
- Write a LinkedIn recommendation for a colleague.
- Go on reddit/charity (or one of the other amazon wishlist type subs), pick a random person and fill their request.
- Leave quarters at the laundromat.
- Slip a $10 bill in with a box of diapers and leave it at a baby changing station.
- Tape bus fare to a bus stop.
- Offer to pick up groceries for your neighbor.
- Write a letter by hand to someone who’s made a difference in your life.
- Give someone you love flowers for no reason. If you’re feeling brave you can do this for a stranger!
- Leave snacks such as high energy granola bars in a hospital waiting room.
- Give a service worker a generous tip.
- Purchase groceries for the person in front of you.
- Organize a “baby shower” (drive for diapers, baby supplies) for a local women’s shelter.
- Buy a street vendors’ entire inventory. Bring the food to the fire station or the homeless shelter.
- Text 10 people and give them a compliment.
- Buy a gift card to hand to someone on your way out of the coffee shop.
