I think that is fabulous and really great. Despite that, I am not doing anything special or out of the ordinary today. Mostly because I had my head in a cave and was unaware of this day until, well, a few hours ago.
My contribution today is going to list a few ways that we can all help out - year round and not just on one day. I think if today you start thinking about ways you can help out that is a good step for National Day of Service. So here are ways you and I can give back:
- Give food to local food pantry
- Volunteer a few hours at food pantry
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen
- Bring a few dinners to a family you know is struggling
- Bring food to an elderly neighbor (or shovel their driveway, mow their lawn, help them plant flowers, etc)
- Call the local school and see where they need help.
- Call your town - can you help fix up a bad lot, help clean up parks/playgrounds, pick up trash at the local forest preserve, etc.
- Call a local animal shelter and see if they need any supplies or if you can help out for a few hours taking care of animals.
- Call your local library and see if they take book donations or need help reshelving or if they need help with story hour or anything like that
- See if Habitat for Humanities is doing any projects in your area and help out there.
- Do you have a hobby that you can use to give back. If you are a photography, offer to take pictures of kids with Santa at a community Christmas party. If you are a knitter, make hats and scarves to be passed out to those who need them.
- Most place run school supply drives in the fall - watch for school supplies to go on sale and bulk up then with the intent to give them.
- Do you own a business? Run a food drive - give customers a discount on services if they bring in food (or coats or shoes or toys or whatever the need is in your community)
- Start a Dining For Women Group
- Start a book club and every time you meet, members bring a book that you donate to a place in need in your area
- Offer to babysit for the single mom who never gets a break for free.
- Play Bunco with the girls? Next time ask people to bring canned goods with them.
- Visit Volunteer Match and see what they recommend for you
- Knitters can find ways to give back with their knitting here and here
- Here is a great page with ideas for crafters who want to give back.
- Make some items or donate supples to The Preemie Project
- Here is a page with patterns for chemohats
- If you are a photographer, sign up with Flashes of Hope
- See if you can help out Project Linus
- Help Soldier Wishes out
- Soldier Angel has many ways you can help out
- Mark Eat So They Can on your calendar now so when October rolls around, you can be ready!
- Host a Bead Party
- Go check out Random Acts of Kindness foundation and get some great ideas!
There are a TON of ways you can give back to with your time and talent. This list is not complete in any way, shape, or form. But hopefully it is a list that will get you thinking about ways you can help out.
And please, leave comments on other ways to help out (I'll add any ideas to this list)- and if you are doing something today or what you plan to do this year in order to give back.
Good list.
ReplyDeleteDonate blood, send gift cards anonymously to a family in need, look for sales on items like sanitary napkins and diapers for women's shelters.