Billhighway Nonprofit Financial Management Solutions

We’re back with Part II of our Random Acts of Kindness Week post.  Take a look at the five ideas below you can implement today…or any day.  The beauty of Random Acts of Kindness Week is to inspire you to do good whenever it strikes you, which is when people least expect it and it’s appreciated the most!

1. Adopt a Solider - Soldiers get lonely too, especially overseas.  Having a daily pen pal or encouraging mentor can be extremely helpful to a warrior who is working 24/7 to defend our country. Any form of encouragement or help towards the brave can go a long way. It can be as simple as sending a letter to a solider with your gratitude.  If you feel that is not enough, send a care package.  A care package should consist of items that are not readily available for soldiers: favorite/regional foods or snacks, hygiene products, and simple souvenirs that may bring a sense of home to the solider.  There are several websites you can reference to get started:  Adopt a soldier here:  Soldier’s Angels, Adopt a US Soldier, or Adopt a Platoon.
2. Host a Food Drive - Many people struggle with food security, but you can help! By creating a food drive, either on your own or at work/school etc., you can help provide dinner and future pantry food for those who struggle to put a meal on their table every night.  If you are working alone, first take stock of what food you have on hand to donate.  Afterward, you can try going to your neighbors to see if they would like to donate food to you or to the food pantry directly. If you are working with a team from work or school, set up a bin to take in donations. Finally, if none of these options work, you can always volunteer your time at a local food pantry later in the year, especially during the holidays.  Learn more at Feeding America and The Global FoodBanking Network.
3. Donate Blood - Nearly 4.5 million Americans are saved each year because of blood transfusions. The blood that you donate can help save more people’s lives.  First, look to see if you know of any blood banks that are located around your work, school or home. If you are healthy, you can safely give blood every 8 weeks! If for various reasons you cannot give blood, try volunteering at a blood bank or the American Red Cross.  For more information, check out United Blood Services.
4. Be a Role Model - Role models are extremely important for everybody. Everyone looks up to one person or another.  Many times, our role models tend to be family members, friends and co-workers.  Role models provide encouragement, support, and great memories, all of which can make a huge impact in someone’s life.  You can start by searching for formal mentor programs available in your neighborhood. Maybe you can partner with a local school or after school organization.  Further, you can always mentor someone you know but may need some extra encouragement or help outside of normal school or business hours.  Here are some resources to help find role model opportunities in your area,   (These are some resources to help find role model opportunities in your area, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the National Mentoring Partnership.
5. Create your Family Tree - A family tree is a great way to learn your family’s heritage, but many people do not have their information written down.  You hear stories from your parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents about the time when Jimmy jumped into the pool from your Uncle John’s roof, but sometimes it’s difficult to keep track of who is related to whom. Engage as many relatives and immediate family members you have to learn about your lineage by hosting a family reunion.  If a reunion is not possible, try a simple phone call or email to relatives.  This is a great opportunity to learn about your family and pass along your heritage to your off-spring.  Here are two sites devoted to creating family trees, Geni and MyHeritage.

Check back next week when we recap the Random Acts of Kindness Billhighway Team Members are doing! Remember to post your random act on Twitter using #rakweek.  Your story may be featured on the Random Acts of Kindness Week website.