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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.
National and Community Service
Contribution Projects and Opportunities
Children
The National Diaper Bank Network
Seniors and Elderly
Donations
Habitat for Humanity – ReStores
Troops
Education
Healthcare
The Get-Well Gamers Foundation
Shelter, Homeless and Crisis Services
National Network to End Domestic Violence
Stuffed Animals for Emergencies
Online Programs and Organization
Miscellaneous
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