TheRun4Life.org: 116 Acts of Kindness

This entry is all about 116 acts of kindness. #29 is a daily act!

#1		Donate your professional clothes to an organization that helps people get back into the workforce
#2		Give gently worn home furnishings or household appliances to a person or family who might need them, or donate them to an organization.
#3		Take warm clothes, blankets or food to a homeless person that you often cross paths with.
#4		Donate toys and books to a homeless organization. Toys and books are just as important to kids as food and shelter.
#5		When shopping, buy a couple of extra non-perishable food items and take them to a food drive or pantry.
#6		Make an extra serving of dinner and bring it to a homeless person in your neighborhood.
#7		Donate age-appropriate learning materials to your local schools.
#8		Write notes of appreciation to schoolteachers, principals, nurses, custodians, and secretaries.
#9		Read with your children every day.
#10		Start them early. Bring toddlers and preschoolers to the library to choose books for reading at home.
#11		Give your gently used books to a local school or organization that can help under-privileged children.
#12		Spread the joy of reading -- read to your friend or neighbor's child too.
#13		Pick up trash on the playground or around the schoolyard of your local school.
#14		Rake leaves and pull weeds at your local elementary school.
#15		Thank the school bus driver for taking your kids safely to school everyday.
#16		Make improvements to the teachers' lounge at a school in your neighborhood.
#17		Give blood.
#18		Go on a walk with friends or neighbors for a little exercise or conversation.
#19		Assemble and deliver a basket of vegetables or fruit and a few flowers for a homebound person.
#20		Sew, knit, or crochet comfort items -- small quilts, hats, stuffed animals -- for the local hospital.
#21		When visiting a hospital, spend a few minutes with someone who might like a visitor, but ask first!
#22		On your way to the grocery store, ask a homebound or elderly neighbor if there is anything you can pick up for them.
#23		Accompany a friend to a doctor's appointment if they could use the support.
#24		Share your favorite healthy recipe with a friend or family member.
#25		Encourage friends who are trying to quit smoking.
#26		Teach someone about good nutrition.
#27		Be a daily medication reminder for someone.
#28		Take care of yourself first, with a healthy diet and activity.
#29		Tell your children why you love them. Be specific.
#30		Help them appreciate art. Create a craft project with a child.
#31		Make dinner with a teenager, or find any other excuse to keep them in the room with you for some conversation.
#32		Involve your children in your daily routine -- preparing meals, setting the table or cleaning up -- they like to feel helpful.
#33		Ask your children to go through their toys and donate some of them to those who are less fortunate.
#34		Children learn by watching -- lead by example.
#35		Offer to keep an eye on the kids of a busy neighborhood mom or dad if they need to run an errand.
#36		Do minor repairs on an elderly neighbor’s home.
#37		Make floral arrangements for senior centers, nursing homes, hospitals, police stations, or shut-ins.
#38		Talk, sing, or read to nursing home patients, especially those without family nearby.
#39		Help a senior neighbor with his errands, grocery shopping or other household tasks.
#40		Offer to drive an elderly friend to an appointment.
#41		Invite an elderly neighbor over for dinner, or bring dinner over to her.
#42		Teach an elderly neighbor how to use a computer -- get them connected!
#43		Share your favorite photos and memories with a senior. And ask him or her to share favorites with you.
#44		Help your elderly neighbors with strenuous tasks like lawn mowing, leaf-raking, or snow-shoveling.
#45		Bring your favorite grandparent -- it doesn't have to be yours -- some fresh flowers.
#46		Listen to music with a senior and compare favorites from yesterday and today.
#47		Keeping in touch keeps them going. Visit or call an elderly homebound person.
#48		Smile and say hello to an elderly person you don’t know.
#49		Help your elderly neighbors get the facts before they apply for loans, hire contractors, or donate money.
#50		Take good care of your pets. If you cannot give them the care they need, take them to a shelter or other pet adoption organization.
#51		Put bird food out for our feathered friends, especially in the winter.
#52		Check the products you buy to see they are not tested on animals.
#53		Share your friendly pets with those who enjoy being around animals but do not have any of their own.
#54		Visit a hospital or nursing home with your friendly pets.
#55		Donate your gently used towles, blankets, toys and supplies to your local animal shelter.
#56		Keep an eye out when you see lost pet signs, and help in the search if you can.
#57		Teach your children and others to love animals, visit a zoo.
#58		Share your umbrella with someone who doesn't have one.
#59		Write a thank-you note to a mentor or someone who has influenced your life in a positive way.
#60		Always say please, thank you, and you're welcome with a smile -- you'll get them back!
#61		Leave an extra big tip for a friendly waiter or waitress.
#62		Defend others. Speak up when you hear someone use a racist remark, whether it’s a family member, neighbor, co-worker, friend or stranger.
#63		Demonstrate a deep respect for other cultures, races and walks of life so that your children will, too.
#64		Discuss stereotypes and intolerance you see in what your child watches on television.
#65		Pick up trash at playgrounds, schoolyards, or other community areas.
#66		Vote. Educate yourself about issues affecting you, your community and our nation.
#67		Know your neighbors. Talk to them about safety, security and even noise level on your street.
#68		Organize a neighborhood clean-up day.
#69		Plant a tree in your yard or neighborhood.
#70		Replace harsh chemical products with environmentally safe cleaning and gardening products.
#71		Pick up trash, especially plastic or other non-degradable items that are in the street. Storm drains lead directly to our rivers and oceans.
#72		Start an office carpool. Save gas, money and get to know your coworkers.
#73		Reduce the amount of disposable products and packaging you buy and use.
#74		Recycle whenever possible. If you have a yard, try composting.
#75		Replace your standard light bulbs with energy-saving compact fluorescent lights, also known as CFLs.
#76		Replace showerheads with more efficient, water-saving models.
#77		Recycle your cell phone. It's free and you’ll help support a healthier environment.
#78		Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when full.
#79		Soak pots and pans rather than let them sit under running water while you scrape them clean.
#80		Turn off water while you brush your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute.
#81		Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk. It saves water and prevents debris and oil from going down storm drains and into rivers and oceans.
#82		Change your car’s air filter. Cleaning your air filter regularly can improve your gas mileage significantly.
#83		Don’t speed. Being a good driver can save you some dollars at the pump. Speeding uses extra gas.
#84		Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. Longer grass retains water better.
#85		Remind everyone to turn off the lights, television and computers when they are done.
#86		Check out your child’s school recycling program. Ask whether recycling bins are accessible and if the kids are encouraged to use them.
#87		Spare the air, save a buck. Air conditioning can decrease your fuel efficiency by as much as 12 percent in stop-and-go traffic, so consider cracking the windows.
#88		Only heat or cool the rooms you need -- close vents and doors of unused rooms.
#89		Save energy by sealing and weatherstripping your windows and doors.
#90		Protect ocean wildlife. Remove fishing lines, nets or plastic items from the water when you’re not using them.
#91		Ask your school and workplace to purchase environmentally friendly paper and try to use less.
#92		Give potted flowers, plants, trees or seeds as gifts. They won't end up in a landfill.
#93		Instead of tossing old clothes or household appliances, give them to someone who could use them or donate to an organization.
#94		Donate Blood.
#95		Bring food or other useful items to emergency volunteers or locations.
#96		Write a letter thanking your local emergency management workers (police, firefighter, EMT) and let them know how they have helped make a difference.
#97		Help your neighbor organize an emergency plan and put together an emergency kit.
#98		Pitch in to clean up the wreckage after a disaster. Even if it happened in another place.
#99		Volunteer to distribute food, water or other supplies to disaster relief crews and victims.
#100		Lend a hand in your area of expertise – medicine, construction, cleaning, cooking, counseling.
#101		Ask that everyone buckle up when riding in a car.
#102		Help someone who might need assistance crossing the street, but ask first.
#103		Let staff know of spills or other dangerous conditions in their restaurant or store.
#104		Lead by example, wear a bicycle helmet.
#105		Learn the Heimlich Maneuver.
#106		Take a CPR training class and keep your certification current.
#107		Always obey the speed limit and drive safely and courteously.
#108		When driving, be aware of emergency vehicles and pull over to let them pass.
#109		Keep an eye out for kids in your neighborhood. Start a neighborhood watch program.
#110		Volunteer to take calls for a child abuse or crisis hotline.
#111		Report child abuse or domestic violence.
#112		Teach children water safety.
#113		Late at night, always walk with a friend to your car or anywhere you are going.
#114		Help a friend who’s being bullied.
#115		Warn children about going anywhere with strangers.
#116		Help your friends and family create emergency preparedness plans.