Today, February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day! Every day millions of people go about their daily lives without little notice to the people surrounding them. But perhaps, today, be a little more aware of the people around you. Promoting small Random Acts of Kindness has a ripple effect. If you are searching for inspiration, check out the following ideas for Random Acts of Kindness Day.
- Hold the door open for a stranger.
- Donate groceries to your local food bank or homeless shelter.
- Bake cookies to give away to friends, co-workers, or neighbors.
- Tape quarters to a vending machine or underneath the lid of a washing machine at your local laundromat.
- Donate dog food, collars, beds, or treats to your local animal shelter or rescue.
- Pay for the next pet adoption at your local animal shelter or rescue.
- Pay for the person’s meal behind you in the drive-thru line.
- Donate clothes or toys to a woman’s shelter.
- Give someone a compliment.
- Return a stranger’s grocery cart.
- Donate flowers to a nursing home. (You can request to give the bouquet to a resident who may not have family in the area).
- Volunteer at a homeless shelter, animal rescue, soup kitchen, or other worthy cause.
- Visit a nursing home.
- Learn CPR and basic first aid. You never know when you may need this skill.
- Mail cards of encouragement to family members or friends.
- Make a homemade meal or grab take-out from your favorite restaurant to give to someone in need.
- Donate to a person’s GoFundMe page.
- Send flowers to your child’s teacher, tutor, or other instructors.
- Let someone go in front of you in the checkout line.
- Send someone a quick text to simply say, hello.
- Post a positive review of a local restaurant or business.
- Thank a person for a job well done.
- Send cards to the children in your life. Kids love stickers, gift cards, or other mailable trinkets.
- Purchase a bag of groceries for someone in need.
- Pick up litter and throw it away.
- Give your pastor, minister, or other spiritual leaders a gift basket.
- Send a care package to a person who is serving in the military.
- Pay off a child’s overdue lunch fees.
- Plant a tree or flower in someone’s memory.
- Paint inspirational quotes on rocks and hide around your neighborhood.
- Purchase a hot beverage for a random person, co-worker, childcare provider, neighbor, or friend.
- Engage in self-care.
- Babysit without charging to allow the parents a night out.
- Slow down to allow another driver to merge into traffic.
- Leave a coupon next to a product at the grocery store.
- Give an extra tip.
- Write thank you notes to distribute.
- Spend the day being grateful. Try not to complain.
- Give blood.
- Donate old glasses.
- Post sticky notes with inspirational quotes or messages.
- Be a mentor.
- Call your parents or grandparents just to say hello.
- Offer forgiveness to a person who has wronged you in the past.
- Buy a book to give away.
- Be a good listener to someone who needs it.
- Create bookmarks with inspirational quotes or positive sayings to hide at your local library.
- Read to a child.
- Compliment a social media post.
- Shovel snow for an elderly neighbor.
Happy Random Acts of Kindness Day! Often a simple simile is enough to make someone’s day better.
Rebecca's Country Notes 