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We all want to help make the world a better place, but where do we start? Sometimes we feel like we’re not wealthy enough or we simply don’t have enough time in the day to give in the way that we’d like to. But everyone can do something to make people smile, and it truly can be as simple as giving a smile or saying hello.
Here is a list of 30 ideas. Choose just one to do today. See how you feel, and maybe choose another one to try tomorrow.
- Donate your old, gently worn clothes to your local Salvation Army Family Store or schedule a pickup. (Go behind the scenes and see how your used goods and thrift shop finds fund addiction recovery across the U.S.)
- Pay for the person behind you at your favorite coffee shop.
- Leave a sticky note with words of encouragement for someone to find.
- Surprise your coworkers with a treat.
- Create cards for children in the hospital.
- Volunteer at a food pantry.
- Ring the bell for The Salvation Army during the holiday season.
- Visit seniors at a nursing home.
- Offer to pick up a friend from the airport.
- Use Amazon Smile for your purchases (and bonus points for choosing “The Salvation Army USA – Western Territory”).
- Send care packages to college students.
- Travel with kindness by using Kind Traveler.
- Run a 5k for a cause.
- Use the Idealist app to connect with likeminded do gooders.
- Become a mentor. Find opportunities to volunteer with The Salvation Army’s after-school programs and more here.
- Offer to drive people to church.
- Become a Salvation Army emergency disaster services volunteer.
- Donate to free a family from domestic violence.
- Help someone craft their resume.
- Join a 30 day kindness challenge.
- Become less dependent on plastic by recycling t-shirts as grocery bags.
- Protect yourself and others by preparing for disasters. (See where to start in our checklist.)
- Throw a party to raise money for an organization.
- Bring your own containers when you get take out.
- Take a quiz to find out what cause is best suited for you.
- Support an idea from a new entrepreneur on Kickstarter.
- Ask how you can help at your local Salvation Army corps (church).
- Help sponsor a child from overseas.
- Give someone a sincere compliment online, or better yet, in person.
- Learn more about The Salvation Army’s six key pillars of service and share about its impact with someone in your life.
Do Good:
- Get a rundown of The Salvation Army’s six key pillars of service in the Do Gooders Podcast episode, “Yes, The Salvation Army is more than kettles and thrift stores.”
- Did you know The Salvation Army served more than 23 million Americans last year fighting hunger, homelessness, substance abuse and more—all in a fight for good? Where can you help? Take our free quiz to find your cause and learn how you can join in today.
- Visit westernusa.salvationarmy.org to find The Salvation Army nearest you.
- Give to support the fight for good in your community.
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