15 Easy Ways to Do Good in A Difficult Year

2020 was a crazy year for so many and 2021 doesn’t look to be improving any time soon.

It’s hard to look at the news without seeing stories of loved ones lost, jobs lost, financial trouble for businesses and families. I would imagine that you personally know people who are struggling either physically, emotionally, or financially these days. Has your experience been better than others? Do you feel especially blessed this year? Anytime we can count our blessings it’s good to find ways to do good, give back, and spread the wealth.

Here are 15 great ideas for doing good in your own community or around the world, while still safely distancing.

1. Shop Local

Did you know there are more than 29 million small businesses in America? That makes up over 99 % of all the businesses in our country. Shopping local instead of the chain stores for Christmas will help people in your own backyard instead of adding to corporate profits for billionaires. Many local shops have online stores too, so you can shop safely and maybe do curbside pickup.

2. Shop Small

Many small entrepreneurs don’t even have a physical storefront. Especially this year, they’re working from home. You can find small entrepreneurs, artists, makers and artisans online at places like Etsy.com or Society6.

Look for local artists and artisans to buy from. Seek out books by self-publishing authors. See how you can support your local theatre or other performing groups while their reach is limited.

3. Support Local Restaurants

Support local restaurants, breweries, wineries, etc. by buying gift cards that can be used later when dining out is safer. Or for takeout, of course.

4. Connect Those in Need with Those Who Can Help

If your community has a Facebook Group or you’re on NextDoor, start a conversation to encourage those who are in need of items and those who have things they’d like to give away to see who can find a match. Someone in my hometown started this and it was so heartwarming to see people connecting to meet each others’ needs.

5. Do Good with Random Acts of Kindness

Pay for someone in line behind you in a drive-through or grocery store line. Put a few coins in a parking meter for a car that’s in danger of running out of time. Hand a grocery store gift card to a mom that has a full shopping cart to help them ease the financial burden of the holidays. Leave a homemade gift of baked goods or jam on a doorstep for someone that may be too busy to bake. Give an extra tip for home delivery. Take gently used coats and blankets to your local homeless shelter.

6. Consider Virtual Volunteering

Volunteer Match has opportunities for helping others around the country. Virtual volunteering covers a wide range of skills, like being a mentor, graphic designer, or social media coordinator for non-profit organizations. There are other creative ways to help too. Like sewing, crafting, crocheting – Amedisys Hospice in Bedford, New Hampshire is looking for volunteers to knit or crochet lap blankets and throws for their patients. Create Greeting Cards for Seniors. Want to get outside? You can volunteer to deliver blood products from the Red Cross to local hospitals.

7. Adopt a Child or Family for the Holiday

If you have the resources to do this, search online with “Adopt a Family for Christmas” and see where you can contribute money, gifts, food, etc. for a family in need. You can give locally or worldwide. Often you’ll find information about local causes on your local news channel or newspaper as well. Some communities gather coats, food, gifts and much more.

Samaritan’s Purse is one option – Operation Christmas Child

Here’s a very specific way to do good by helping a friend of mine with educational toys for her Special Needs Classroom.

Would You Like to Receive Help?

Call 2-1-1, or visit the Human Services Hotline servicing most of the United States.

Contact your local Toys for Tots, Lutheran Social Services, or Salvation Army – Rescue Christmas to see if they offer an adopt a family program in your area.

8. Give Back to Military Families

Our military families are often without a parent at home during the holidays. They sacrifice in so many ways to protect our country. Visit this site to find great ideas for Christmas programs for military families in need. Organizations like Wreaths Across America, USO, Trees for Troops, Soldiers’ Angels, and many more can connect you to creative ways to help our military heroes. Programs reach out to comfort, encourage, and meet the needs of those in America and stationed overseas.

Adopt a Military Family for the Holiday Season with Soldiers’ Angels Los Angeles.

9. Remember Our Senior Citizens

Sometimes our seniors get lost in the shuffle when holiday busyness takes up more time. Remember that with COVID these older citizens are more vulnerable and may be feeling more lonely and isolated as well. Some seniors don’t have family nearby and social distancing makes life even harder to navigate. Many senior facilities are on lockdown or offer only limited visitors, which creates more loneliness. Contact a local senior facility to see what you can do to connect through cards, letters, phone calls, music, or other outreach. Offer to do grocery shopping or drop off a few treats for your elderly neighbor.

Volunteer Match has many virtual opportunities to do good with the elderly when they need it most.

Here are 14 worthwhile ideas for connecting with seniors in your family during the holiday season.

10. Donate Blood and Save a Life

Blood donations are truly the gift of life. Do you know your blood type? Have you donated before? Some blood types are rarer than others, so those are always highly sought after. But, even if you don’t have a rare blood type, any blood is welcome at the Red Cross. It’s never more needed than in a pandemic when some donors aren’t able to give or have reduced their frequency.

11. Donate Plasma For COVID-19 Patients

Did you know that if you’ve fully recovered from a verified COVID-19 diagnosis, your convalescent plasma donation may help up to 4 Coronavirus patients in need? Donors are critically needed as COVID-19 cases rise. Find out all about it here.

12. Donate Food to a Food Bank

With about 11 million people still unemployed food banks are even more vital in this season of doing good. If you have extra non-perishable food or funds, a donation to your local food bank will go a long way to helping your neighbors make ends meet. Some grocery stores even have ways to drop off your food donation right at the store after you check out.

Here are a few basic ideas for common needs at food banks:

Peanut butter
Soup – canned
Fruit – canned
Canned vegetables
Stew or chili in a can
Tuna or other canned fish
Canned beans
Pasta (most prefer whole grain)
Rice

Check for lists online at your local food bank or find more ideas at the “Feeding America” website here.

13. Do Good With a Financial Donation

Giving money is the easiest way for some busy people to do good. If you decide to do this, be sure to check a website like Charity Navigator that reviews and rates non-profit organizations based on financial effectiveness, stability, and more. Consider Domestic Abuse Assistance Shelters, Homeless shelters, or feeding the hungry. People of color, especially indigenous peoples have been hit especially hard by the pandemic. Here’s a list of Indigenous Peoples & Native-Led Nonprofits and a list of highly-rated Civil Rights Charities. This list of nonprofits has perfect scores with Charity Navigator.

Did you know that the Cares Act made a change in deductions for charitable contributions for this year?

“Previously, charitable contributions could only be deducted if taxpayers itemized their deductions. However, taxpayers who don’t itemize deductions may take a charitable deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions made in 2020 to qualifying organizations. For the purposes of this deduction, qualifying organizations are those that are religious, charitable, educational, scientific, or literary in purpose. The law changed in this area due to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

The CARES Act also temporarily suspends limits on charitable contributions and temporarily increases limits on contributions of food inventory.

It is an “above the line” adjustment to income that will reduce a donor’s adjusted gross income, and thereby reduce taxable income. More information about these changes is available on IRS.gov.”

14. Give Blessing/Care Bags to The Homeless

Blessing Bags can be any size, but the idea is to put together a sampling of supplies and treats that can be a blessing to someone you see on the streets in your day-to-day activities. There’s some debate about whether this is the best method to do good and help those in need, but it can’t hurt. It would also be great if we contribute to solving the systemic homeless problem in other ways too. Huffington Post shares that this is a great project to do with kids to help raise their awareness that everyone may not have the same advantages that they have.

Here are a few ideas for items to include in your bags:

A handwritten note
Socks (this is the #1 most asked-for item)
Gloves
Water bottles
Wet wipes
Hand sanitizer
Disposable face masks
Lightweight mylar emergency thermal blankets

Toothbrush and toothpaste
Tuna or chicken snack packs
Single-serving snacks like trail mix, nuts, crackers
Beef jerky
Peanut butter snack packs
Protein bars
Dried fruit
Nail clippers
Travel size toiletries like shampoo, soap, deodorant
Comb or brush
Lotion
Lip balm
Warm Scarf
Warm or waterproof hat
Grocery store gift card
Hand warmers
Trash bags (to use to protect their belongings)
Ziploc bags
Bandages
Small flashlight or headlamp
Sunscreen

15. Take Action to Help the Environment

EarthDay.org shares some easy ideas on how to do good, help your environment and the planet. Here’s what they say: “Change starts with action. Better yet, an action that affects the world around you. A Billion Acts of Green are happening across the planet. From students in classrooms to organizers in their communities to officials in government there are ways for anyone of any background to make a difference. Start small and go big — or start big and stay big. Either way, keep coming back, keep taking action and join the movement to change the world.”

Let Others Do Good Too

If you’re not in a situation to help others financially right now, gifts of time and kindness are just as important as funds in this unsettled year. And if that’s not possible, then maybe it’s your turn to let others help you. There is no shame in allowing others to love you. Always remember that there’s a season for everything. Allow those who can to help and love you in this difficult time. There may come a day when you can pay it forward to others, but that’s not what it’s about either. Choose to be still and allow people to help. It will do everyone’s heart good.

I’m sure there are many more ideas for ways to do good. What’s your favorite act of service to others? Let me know in the comments and please share these ideas with others.

Let’s take a look back at 2020 and how our world changed.

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Tags: blessing bag, Doing good, featured, food for the hungry, giving back, helping others, homeless, military families, senior citizens, volunteering

Category: On the Home Front, Travel Inspiration