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105 Ideas for Random Acts of Kindness

May 16, 2019
105 Ideas for Random Acts of Kindness

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links which means that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through the links and make a purchase.

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Looking for ways and ideas to practice kindness and generosity? When it comes to being kind and acts of kindness, there’s so many possibilities, opportunities, and ideas you can try! This list of 105 ideas for random acts of kindness is a great place to start.

1. Volunteer at a pet shelter or animal rescue

2. Donate to a charity

3. Choose to support local small businesses, female-owned business, black-owned businesses, etc.

4. Volunteer at a church or synagogue

5. Make sandwiches and go around town passing them out to homeless people

6. Volunteer at a hospital

7. Send cards to sick children in hospitals

8. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter

9. Donate food at a food drive

10. Donate and give toys and gifts to children for Christmas

11. Volunteer at children and youth centers and organizations

12. Read to children at a library for storytime

13. Become a mentor or tutor for a child

14. Volunteer at a senior center or retirement home

15. Bake cookies for the elderly

16. Bake something or get someone a cake for their birthday or other special day

17. Write letters for the elderly and make a new pen pal

18. Help out at a farm or ranch

19. Participate in a fundraiser (or start your own!)

20. Run for a good cause

21. Share important messages on social media and with your circle to help someone out

22. Sign and share petitions for good causes

23. Put all of your friends birthdays and important dates to them in your calendar, remember them and do something special for them

24. Smile at people

25. Give someone flowers

26. Bring coworkers delicious treats

27. Think ahead of time of things people may need during outings and special events and bring extras, things like hair ties, towels, sunscreen, snacks and offer to others

28. Surprise your friend or family member with their favorites or something they love

29. Tell a lighthearted joke or story to brighten someone’s day or make them laugh

30. Share inspiration and motivation with others

31. Buy the meal, groceries or coffee for the person behind or in front

32. Offer someone to pass you in line

33. Saying please and thank you to people, even those who are being paid to help you

34. Assist others as much as you can

35. Offer assistance if someone looks like they want or need help without waiting for them to ask

36. Give someone a hug and try to aim for more than 3 seconds

37. Tell your loved ones you love them

38. Wish someone a good day

39. Pick up trash

40. Recycle

41. Protect the environment and don’t leave a trace in nature

42. Start a community

43. Give out goodie bags or small gifts to teachers, workers, etc.

44. Give out gold stars

45. Offer a tampon, pad or makeup to anyone who needs it if you have it

46. Donate blood

47. Volunteer at local events

48. Send a handwritten card to a friend

49. Write your partner a love note

50. Show support

51. Take the time to fully and actively listen to someone

52. Make someone or your friends a playlist of music

53. Share a quote

54. Share your favorite book and movie recommendations

55. Lend out a good book or movie

56. Donate and give away your clothes instead of throwing them away

57. Help out a friend or family member with things like moving

58. Spend time with your pet – pet, cuddle, play with them, take out for a walk or to the park

59. Be courteous and understanding to others in traffic (but be predictable)

60. Donate your hair

61. Cook someone or your family a meal or make them dinner

62. Send pizza to a friend

63. Plan a fun family outing

64. Hold the door open for someone, if they’re carrying things or they are behind you

65. Offer to take photos of tourists you may notice

66. Write a letter of gratitude and appreciation to someone or a thank you note

67. Give out cards for the holidays (Valentine’s, Halloween, Christmas)

68. Help out a busy parent or senior with groceries or putting their cart away

69. Give up your seat on a bus to someone else

70. Contribute some change to someone who’s short in the checkout line (if you can afford it)

71. Give a friend a ride if they don’t have a car

72. Make a loved one breakfast in bed

73. Help clean up messes and dishes that aren’t yours

74. Offer assistance is someone looks like they need help

75. Put a coin in a stranger’s expiring or expired meter

76. Tip your waiter generously

77. Give out cold drinks for construction workers and those working outside on hot days

78. Offer to share with others

79. Give a friend or loved one a massage

80. Give a talk and share your message or expertise at a school or organization

81. Compliment people

82. Speak good about others behind their backs, especially during times of gossip

83. Speak up for and defend others

84. Be silly and make people smile or laugh

85. Create art for someone

86. Send your friends funny and cute memes or pictures and videos of pets and babies

87. Give away gift cards that you don’t plan on using

88. Share words of encouragement

89. Leave a positive note on the fridge or in a lunch box, bag, or notebook

90. Give company to the new person or the person sitting all alone at your work or school

91. Help out your neighbor with their lawn

92. Send goodies to your neighbors

93. Plant flowers, a garden, fruits, veggies, or a tree

94. Babysit or dog sit for free

95. Feed birds at the park or build a birdhouse where you live

96. Write or sing a song to someone

97. Pass on your notes and textbooks for the next students of a class you took

98. Help out injured or thirsty and hungry animals (but be safe)

99. During an emergency, act quick, ask questions, call 911, and keep anyone in need company and help keep them calm (don’t just stare and think someone else will help them)

100. Share and talk about your acts of kindness because it inspires others to do the same

101. Meditate, pray, or send positive healing energy to someone

102. As a business owner, offer good deeds to those in need

103. Get creative! Start small or go above and beyond!

104. Accept and show gratitude to others acts of kindness, compliments, and gifts

105. Above all, practice kindness towards yourself, take care of your mental and physical health above all else and don’t do anything you genuinely don’t want to do

Hopefully you found a few things that interested you in this list of ideas for random acts of kindness. Feel free to share your ideas for random acts of kindness in the comments below!

How to find volunteer opportunities

If you’re looking to volunteer more, here are some great places to start to look.

VolunteerMatch

Idealist

National and Community Service

Volunteer

U.S. Peace Corps

American Red Cross

Contribution Projects and Opportunities

Children

Cards for Hospitalized Kids

Cardz for Kidz

One Simple Wish

Toys for Tots

Operation Letters to Santa

Angel Tree Program

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children

The National Diaper Bank Network

Ronald McDonald House

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Seniors and Elderly

Letters of Love

Senior Buddy program

Sunshine Box

Donations

AmazonSmile

iGive

Give Back Box

Gift Card Giver

The Freecycle Network

Online Database of Nonprofits

Fitness 4 Charity

One World Running

Habitat for Humanity – ReStores

Troops

Operation Gratitude

Soldiers’ Angels

Operation Homefront

Disabled American Veterans

Purple Heart Foundation

DVDs4Vets

Brides Across America

Education

Books for America

DonorsChoose

Healthcare

Bone Marrow Registry

Organ Donation

The Get-Well Gamers Foundation

Brides Against Breast Cancer

Shelter, Homeless and Crisis Services

National Network to End Domestic Violence

The Salvation Army

Dress for Success

Stuffed Animals for Emergencies

Online Programs and Organization

Free Rice

Ecosia

BOINC

Goodsearch

Miscellaneous

Free “You Matter” Cards

More Love Letters

Kiva

This list of 105 ideas for random acts of kindness will change your life and the lives of those around you.
Category: Personal Development, ReachingSelf, RelationshipsTag: Happiness, Personal Development, Relationships, Work
Previous Post: « 25 Ways to Become a Better Person 25 Ways to Become a Better Person
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pradip Basu Roy

    March 24, 2020 at 9:47 AM

    I should try to follow this idea all times forever.

    • Isabella

      February 7, 2021 at 6:42 PM

      Definitely! I’m with you there!

  2. Fabian

    November 30, 2020 at 10:26 AM

    In this blog are so many good ideas. Thank you for taking the time to write this

    • Isabella

      February 7, 2021 at 6:06 PM

      Thank you! I’m happy you enjoyed it. 🙂

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