Here are some ideas to get you started on your own mitzvah/kindness efforts:
Visit an elderly neighbor
Make a meal for a new mom
Volunteer at a soup kitchen
Donate Children’s clothing to a local shelter
Donate centerpieces or flowers from an event to a hospital
Hold the door for someone
Send a gratitute card
Send a condolence card
Visit a shiva house
Volunteer at school
Bake some cookies or a meal for a new neighbor
Compliment someone
Tip the housekeeper
Let someone’s employee know they did a great job
Surprise someone with flowers
Donate Blood
Donate money in honor or memory of someone
Visit a nursing home or senior center with your kids
Great ideas for Mothers and Children:
Sign up to ring the bell for the Salvation Army during their winter fund drive. One mom told me her 3 year old daughter loved ringing the bell and it seemed to get many people to stop by and give their change.
Volunteer to pull weeds at a community garden. What’s not to love? Dirt and kids go very well together. The kids will love the opportunity to help out and get dirty and it will be a funny outing for everyone.
Have a secret sister exchange. This would work well with a mom’s club, book group, cooking club, office event etc. Everyone gets a secret sister. For 3-4 weeks you give your secret sister a little something special. The week before Mother’s Day the secret sisters reveal themselves. Doesn’t that sound fun?
Bring pennies that you have collected to a wishing well at the mall. Give out the pennies and help others make their own wishes.
Find a food bank or pantry that will allow kids and bring them to help stock shelves.
Mothers With Tweenage Children:
Have your kids run a Lemonade Stand. Give the proceeds to their favorite charity. If you let the organization know that you will personally deliver the donation maybe they will shake their hand or at least publicly acknowledge their efforts.
Seniors
Volunteer in a school reading program. Become a foster grandparent. Become an ESL language teacher.
