Group of people giving back to the community by painting over graffiti on a wall.

Acts of good & kindness challenge ideas

Make a difference in the world, one day at a time, with this 30 day kindness challenge.

How many random acts of kindness do you do in one day? How about a week? Over a whole month or longer? What if you could do one act of kindness, every day, all month long? Take the 30 day kindness challenge, and see what a difference you can make in one month. Here is a sample 30 day calendar if you want some ideas.

Kindness matters

Being kind has great benefits, not only for your own well-being, but for the ones around you. When you are kind to others, you may help your self-esteem and may also change your perspective on the world around you. You may set an example for your family and friends and might make a difference in the lives of others just by being kind. In addition, doing a small act of kindness might make a big impact for the one receiving it. Sometimes it can be hard to come up with ideas, so here are some to get you started.

Random acts of kindness ideas for strangers

  • Leave snacks for delivery people — granola bars and water, for example.
  • Recycle used shipping materials (and save them from the landfill): Some stores accept packaging peanuts, air pillows and bubble wrap.
  • Buy a stash of coffee gift cards and hand them out to emergency responders.
  • Leave an envelope of quarters at a laundromat for customers in need of change.
  • Stash small plastic baggies with spare change and energy bars to give out to people in need.
  • Let a parent and his or her kids go ahead of you in line at the grocery store.
  • Hold doors open for people all day long.
  • If you're traveling, tip a housekeeper. Most people know to tip their server when dining at a restaurant. But not everyone is aware that tipping in a hotel is a standard practice.
  • Deliver lunch to the staff at your local hospital's emergency room.
  • Donate unused professional clothes to a career closet.
  • Pay it forward in a toll booth or drive-through line.
  • Start mentoring a child or a teenager.
  • Feed someone's parking meter.
  • Pay someone's fine at the library.
  • Let a store manager know if the store clerk was friendly or helpful.
  • Leave a good review for a business that did a good job or a restaurant that you enjoyed.
  • Sign up to serve a meal at a shelter.
  • Donate clothes and household items that you don't use anymore.
  • Offer to take someone's grocery cart back inside of the store.

Acts of good for teachers and schools

  • Donate time to volunteer at a classroom party.
  • Donate time to help a teacher with copying or laminating.
  • Donate new children's books to a local classroom.
  • Drop off snacks for a local school's food pantry.
  • Greet the school bus driver with a to-go mug of hot chocolate.
  • Bring a thank you gift to the janitor or the lunch ladies at the end of the school year.

Kindness challenge ideas for animals

  • Do a flash donation drive for your local animal shelter: Ask friends and family on social media to drop donations at your home for a week, then drop them off at the end of the week.
  • Volunteer at an animal shelter.
  • Bring some extra playing balls to the dog park and leave them there for dogs to enjoy.
  • Foster a cat or a dog while they wait for their forever home.
  • Get a birdfeeder and have seeds available for birds, especially during the winter.

Random acts of kindness for neighbors

  • Leave random positive sticky notes for coworkers, family members or neighbors.
  • Donate unused books to a local library or place in a neighborhood library.
  • Rake your neighbor's leaves during the fall.
  • Clean someone's sidewalk and driveway after a snowstorm, especially if it is an elderly neighbor.
  • Bring some baked goodies to someone new in the neighborhood to make them feel welcome.
  • If you have a summer garden, share the extra vegetables.
  • Run an errand or pick up groceries for a neighbor that just had a baby or is recovering from surgery.
  • Water your neighbor's plants when they are on vacation.

Acts of good for coworkers and friends

  • Send a college kid (doesn't even have to be yours) a campus store gift certificate for supplies.
  • Fix a meal for a family that needs extra help.
  • Leave anonymous flowers for someone who has experienced loss this year.
  • Send a handwritten note to a relative or friend, even if they're in town.
  • Offer to babysit someone's children for a night out for free.
  • Provide a friend or a coworker with a list of their qualities.
  • Call or text a friend that you haven't been in contact with for some time.
  • Check on someone that lives alone.
  • Bring some healthy treats to coworkers.
  • Say positive things if commenting on social media posts.
  • Let your manager know when your coworkers are doing a good job.
  • Make the new person on your team feel welcome by bringing them a cup of coffee or treating them to lunch.

Acts of kindness for kids and teens

  • Bring an extra snack in your lunch box and share it with someone that might need it.
  • Help with chores at home.
  • Offer to give a ride to one of your classmates.
  • Bring an extra bottle of water for after school practice.
  • Share school supplies with others at school.
  • Leave kind comments on social media.
  • Compliment your classmates if they have a nice outfit or hairstyle.
  • Let someone in your family pick the next movie or show to watch on television.
  • Spend some quality time with your siblings and/or parents.
  • Play a board game with your siblings.
  • Set the table when your parents or other siblings are cooking.
  • Cook a meal for your family.
  • Play with or take the dog on an extra walk.
  • Clean out the litter box for your cat.
  • Plant a tree or flowers.
  • Write letters to soldiers or healthcare workers.
  • Send a letter or a greeting card to your grandparents, relatives or friends.
  • Make a drawing for your parents or teachers.
  • Do chalk art or write positive messages in your driveway or at the park.
  • Donate toys that you are not using anymore.

Giving back to the community

  • In your neighborhood park or streets, pick up seven extra pieces of trash, one for every day of the week.
  • Shovel snow around the nearest hydrant so it's visible to firefighters.
  • Start a community garden.
  • Buy something local to support a business.
  • Support local organizations by attending a rotary pancake breakfast or a high school fundraiser.
  • Participate and speak up at city council meetings or community groups.
  • Say “thank you” to your local leaders by delivering treats to a fire or a police station or support them when they have fundraisers.

Good Neighbor Day

Being kind does not take a lot of work. And whether you make it a daily habit, do it once in a while or decide to take the 30 day challenge, your act of kindness might make someone's day. You can celebrate Good Neighbor Day on September 28th or Random Acts of Kindness on February 17th or use any other day of the year to make a difference in your life and the life of others. In the words of Morgan Freeman: “How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time.”

 

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with State Farm® (including State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates). While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. State Farm is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.

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