Make Our World a Better Place: 44 Random Acts of Kindness

If you have ever experienced a random act of kindness, you know what joy a simple act can produce. This month, encourage your family to spread that kindness to the people who cross your paths.

Simple Enough for a Child

1. Collect stray carts outside the grocery store and put them back in the corrals.
2. Send a note of appreciation to a coach, teacher or neighbor.
3. Do a chore without being asked.
4. If you see something out of place at the store, put it back where it goes.
5. Start the day on the right foot. Smile and say good morning to everyone you see.
6. Bring in a neighbor’s garbage cans or mail on a cold day.
7. When you received prize tickets from arcade games, give them to someone else so they can get a bigger prize.
8. Hand out a refreshing bottle of water to the mail carrier.

Make Someone’s Day

1. Let someone ahead of you in line at the store.
2. Compliment someone on her hair, clothes, nail polish, or new car.
3. Ask a friend about his day and let him vent.
4. Give up a great parking spot to the person behind you.
5. Send a silly ecard to a friend and let her know you are thinking of her.
6. Give another parent a break. Offer to babysit while she catches up on sleep or shopping.
7. Write a hand-written letter to an older family member. Show him that he is worth the time.
8. Share a word of encouragement with a parent who has her hands full.
9. If you have to run out to the store on a cold or rainy day, be sure to ask your neighbor if he needs something.
10. Pull a shy partygoer into the conversation by asking her about herself.

Share the Wealth

1. Buy hot cocoa for the Salvation Army bell ringers.
2. Hand out $5 gift cards at the gas station, donut shop or fast food restaurant.
3. Tape coins to the machines at the Laundromat or hand out boxes of detergent.
4. Place singles on items at the dollar store – the toy aisle might be the best place.
5. Pay for the order of the person behind you in the drive up window, subway station or toll booth.
6. Purchase a buy-one-get-one item and share it with a friend.
7. Leave a generous tip for a small bill. We have all worked for tips at one time in our lives.
8. Buy lunch for the service man working at your house. Pizza goes a long way when there is more than one.
9. If you have an extra ticket, give it to someone who is waiting in line.

Do Something Together as a Family

1. Order a gift card for Red box and hand out codes to visitors along with a bag of popcorn.
2. Tape coins to the gum ball machines
3. Play board games with residents at the nursing home. Bring a plate of cookies with you.
4. Collect old towels and blankets for the animal shelter
5. Help someone load groceries into their car and take their cart back to the corral.
6. Make twice as much dinner as your family needs and give it to a neighbor – just because.
7. Attach coupons to items in the grocery store

Help your fellow man

1. Leave a used book at the dentist office, coffee shop or auto repair waiting room.
2. Give of yourself. Sign up to be an organ, bone marrow or blood donor.
3. Offer your seat to someone who needs it more on the bus, train or waiting area.
4. Say “Bless you” when a stranger sneezes.
5. If you find a stray dog with a collar, call him over so you can reunite him with his owner.
6. If a store or restaurant employee has been kind or helpful, be sure to tell his or her boss.
7. If you follow a blog, leave a comment and let the blogger know why you enjoy the blog.
8. Leave a package of baby wipes in a public bathroom changing area.
9. Clean off a dirty park bench or swing if a bird has been there.

Pam Molnar is a freelance writer and mother of three. She is blessed to be on both the giving and receiving end of random acts of kindness.

First published in 2015.