30 Ways You Can Make a Difference

Looking for ideas on how to “pay it forward” with small random acts of kindness? Make a Difference Day is Oct. 27. To celebrate, we’re sharing several ways you can make a positive impact on the world and in the lives of others. Check them out by reading on.

Look for a small act or a big project that can help your community be a little more eco-friendly, such as planting trees.

Rescue a stray animal and take it to a no-kill animal shelter in your local area.

Try your best to use all your meal leftovers for a week; they make tasty lunches!

Donate blood; just one pint can save up to three lives!

Forgive someone from whom you expect an apology; give, don’t expect to get.

Grow out your hair for a few months, cut it off, and then donate it to an organization of your choosing, such as a group that makes wigs for childhood cancer survivors.

Donate old or unused clothes, shoes and other items to a charity.

Organize a weekend drive to clean up any trash floating around your neighborhood.

Save a life by volunteering at the suicide hotline in your city.

Donate books to your local library, or help kids discover the adventure of reading by volunteering to read at a library event!

Avoid plastic bags for a month or even a whole year by using reusable options instead.

Buy a cup of coffee for the person in line after you.

Save an hour’s electricity than your normal consumption, daily.

Sponsor an entire year’s education for a child, if you can afford it.

If you have lots of grocery coupons, give some to the first person you meet at the store.

Donate a month’s-worth of art supplies to the kindergarten class at your local school.

Lend a helping hand with a local group that has a passion or goal that aligns with something you believe in.

Dedicate a day to help a friend with his (or her) aspirations and goals.

Donate children’s toys to a local salvation army or an orphanage.

Visit a senior living home in your community and read books to the residents or play an instrument.

Collect reusable plastic bags for recycling.

Help out a single parent by offering to babysit.

Share your snacks or lunch with a friend at work.

If you’re upgrading your cellphone, give your used one to someone in need, such as a veteran’s group.

If you have any unused cellphones lying around, donate them to women’s shelters or organizations that deal with domestic violence so women have a way to get help.

Mentor someone.

Cultivate a vegetable, fruit or herb crop in your yard, on your patio, or at a community garden.

Make a meal for a friend.

Say “Thank You” to someone today.

Pay someone a compliment.

Sources

“51 Ways to Make a Difference in the World,” Purnima Ramakrishnan, heartfulnessmagazine.com, Dec. 28, 2016.

“7 Ways to Make a Difference and Make Your Mark,” HandsOn Network, serve.gov, Oct. 21, 2011.