Best Free Random Acts of Kindness
- Compliment drivers who park especially well or leave a letter of encouragement on their car
- Pick up trash along your street. How often do we find litter everywhere? Go for a walk with a trash bag and clean up the neighborhood.
- Hold the door or elevator for someone. It’s such a simple act and these days, folks don’t even expect it. Make someone smile!
- Thank a service member and his family for their service. They deserve our thanks. The family serves too so don’t forget about them.
- Leave a note of cheer or a dollar in a library book. This is such a fun idea. Make somebody smile by leaving a “Have a great day” sticky note in a library book. Better yet, leave it with a dollar bill.
- Remember friends who have lost parents recently. Send them cards or give them a phone call. It will mean so much to them.
- Donate goods to charity. When something you own has worn out its use, pass it on to someone who can really use it.
- Write a handwritten letter or send a homemade card from your own beautiful stationary set
- Welcome a new neighbor with cookies or a meal. Get to know your new neighbor and make a great first impression. This is always a fun act of kindness for kids to do. Mine loved it!
- Give away your parking spot. If someone is looking and spots are rare, give them yours. Free smiles are yours!
- Donate used books to your library.
- Ask a senior citizen about their past. They just love telling stories. Be a great listener!
- Write thank you notes. handwritten notes, not an email. Thank someone for a gift, a phone call or a visit.
- Send cards to sick children. For more information, visit Cards for Hospitalized Kids.
Best Random Acts of Kindness Challenge ideas
- Make “thanks for making my day” cards and give them to someone who does something special. \
- If someone drops something, pick it up for them. It’s such a simple act. They’ll appreciate it.
- Drive a friend to the doctor or another appointment. Often it’s hard to ask for help, so just ask if they would like you to drive them. It will mean so much.
- Bake someone cookies or a cake. This is another great idea to do it, just because.
- Walk or run a 5k for a cause. Not only will you get exercise, but you’ll also be raising money for a great charity.
Best Random Acts of Kindness that are low cost ideas
- Buy lemonade from a children’s lemonade stand. You will truly make that child’s day!
- Put money in the tip jar at the coffee shop or takeout restaurant. Leave your change or a couple of dollars.
- Leave quarters at the laundromat or vending machine. If you’ve got leftover change, leave it behind. ile on the recipient’s face.
- Leave a bigger tip for your waitress. Who says 15% or 20% is the be-all of tips? If they did a good job, leave an extra $5 or $10 over that 20%. Your waiters and waitresses work hard.
- Give to the veterans or organizations who are raising money for a good cause. You may not think that your $1 or $2 matters, but if everybody gives a little, they will raise the funds they need. The more you give, the better. Plus, it always feels good to help!
- Give to a homeless person or buy them a meal. Don’t just ignore them! Don’t judge them. You don’t know their situation. Help someone who is down on their luck.
- Help your parents or aging friends and family members. I think this goes without saying. Family is important and it’s our job to help them out.
- Call or write to someone special. Nobody calls or writes anymore. It’s always about the text message. Break out the phone or pen and paper and let the special people in your life know you care.
- After a wedding or funeral, donate flowers to a hospital or nursing home. You don’t need them anymore, right? So bless someone else’s day.
- Make a meal for someone who’s sick or going through some tough times. It’s a touching and very helpful act that means so much.
- Leave a positive review for an employee or a business. These reviews are important for the success of the company. Help them out!
- Compliment a stranger. Let them know that the outfit they’re wearing is pretty or you like their purse.
- Compliment a parent on how well-behaved their kids are. We always hear kids screaming in the store. Give that parent some grace. They’re probably having a tough day. But for the well-behaved kids, compliment their parents. It’ll make their day.
- Let someone cut in front of you at the store or in traffic. Will one or two cars really make you late for your appointment? No! Let them in, smile and wave.
Anonymous Acts of Kindness Ideas
- Help someone at the grocery store who is short on cash. This can be embarrassing so if they need help and you’ve got it, then share. Please!
- Give a gift card. You can give a gift card as a gift, a thank you or just because. It’s just a great idea.
- Ship a care package. Are your kids away at school? Do you have a friend or relative in the military? Care packages are great to give and to receive. Plus, it’s a fun project!
- Donate to your favorite charities. They all need money. Doesn’t it feel good to give? They can also be a tax write-off.
- Donate $1 at the checkout stand. What’s an extra dollar? They wouldn’t ask if there wasn’t a need, right?
- Give a bag of groceries to your local food pantry. At our grocery store, there’s always a place for food item donations. Even if you can’t give a whole bag, you can donate a few things. Provide help when you can. It’s a great rule to live by. I love anonymous acts of kindness ideas!
Best Random Acts of Kindness to Show Love
- Buy coffee or lunch for the customer behind you in line. Many times when you do this, that person will do the same for the person behind them. And so on, and so on!
- Buy dinner for a service member.
- Pay for someone behind you in a toll booth. This is similar to the coffee shop idea. You pay it forward and they will too. It’s just a great idea and it’s also one of the best random acts of kindness.
- Foster a pet. We’ve all heard of pet adoption, but when a pet needs a temporary home, this is your opportunity to help out.
- Shop locally. We do more for local businesses by shopping at local mom and pop stores than big box stores. Make a difference in the little guy’s business. They’ll appreciate it more than the big box store too.
- Buy someone flowers, just because.
- Buy Christmas gifts for a needy family. If you don’t do it, who will? Just imagine the smiles when they open those gifts! What better way to show love than with random acts of kindness.
- Participate in a fundraiser. Every little bit helps! Make sure you donate too!
- Send a soldier a care package. You can get more information at Support Our Troops
- Donate to an animal shelter. Shelters need food and other supplies. Give where you can and if you can volunteer your time, that helps too.
Spreading Kindness
- Thank someone who has made a difference. So often important acts go unnoticed. Take a minute just to say thank you. They’ll appreciate it.
- Share your umbrella. It’s fun and it’s cozy, plus it’ll keep one more person dry.
- Listen when someone is talking. Give them the attention that they deserve. Put your phone down and listen!
- Volunteer! Giving of your time to a worthy cause not only helps the organization, but it will touch your heart and make you feel good as well.
- Give someone the benefit of the doubt. There’s so much judgement in the world today. Take a minute and just cut somebody a break. You won’t regret it and you’re spreading kindness.
- Be an organ donor. Once you’re gone, you won’t need your organs any longer. Give them to someone who really needs them.
- Call your grandparents. Just say hello! Let them know you care.
- Allow someone to help you. This might be a tough one for you. Accepting help takes humility, but you can do it. Don’t rob someone of their blessing by telling them no!
- Write love notes to your spouse or kids and put them somewhere they’ll find it like in their lunch box or the book they’re reading. You can make these up yourself or check out these really cute pre-made ones.
- Wash someone’s car.
- Write a list of things you adore about someone. You can hand write it or use the notepad below.
Acts of Love
- Serve at a homeless shelter. These organizations need help. Give of your time and energy. You’ll feel the blessing right away.
- Write letters to soldiers. A great resource is Operation Gratitude.
- Shovel snow or rake leaves for your neighbor. Does your neighbor need help?
- Babysit for free. It’s hard parenting and sometimes they just need a night out. Babysitters aren’t cheap so give that couple a break and a night out that they desperately need.
- Do a favor without asking for anything in return. Why must it be reciprocal? How easy is it to ask if you can help someone out?
- When you make a meal, make extra for somebody that you know loves that food.
- Walk your neighbor’s dog. If you’re going out to exercise, take a friend. Your neighbor and that pet will appreciate it!
- Volunteer at the vet’s office. What a fun job to be able to play with the animals. Plus, they probably need the help and it’s a great act of love!
- Bring donuts for your co-workers. Who doesn’t love an unexpected treat at work sometimes?
More Random Acts of Kindness
- Help someone cross the street. If you see they need help, make the effort. They will appreciate it!
- Offer to take someone’s picture. Selfies are great but if you can take the picture for them, that is even better. Give them a photo to remember.
- Read to kids at the library. Libraries need help and if you like kids, it’s the right job for you!
- Save your soda can tabs for a children’s hospital, Ronald McDonald House
- Gather a group to perform hymns or Christmas carols at a nursing home.
- Mentor a child. Big Brothers and Big Sisters are needed everywhere. Make a difference in a child’s life!
- Help someone who has a flat tire. If you’re able and someone needs help, then pull over and help.
- Carry someone’s groceries. This is such a simple act! Offer to help. You’ll make someone’s day!
- Give someone the last cookie. I know, this one might hurt a bit. But show them you care and give it up!
Acts of Kindness to Make Someone Smile
- Give up your seat to someone. Give with a generous heart. Someone else needs that seat more than you do. I guarantee it!
- Donate your hair to Locks of Love
- Take out someone’s trash. If the trash needs to be emptied, don’t wait to be asked, just do it!
- Visit the elderly in a nursing home. Unfortunately, these folks are lonely and even if they’ve got family visiting regularly, they will always enjoy another visitor. Let’s face it, nursing homes are sad. Make them smile!
- Carry out someone else’s groceries. At the very least, offer to return their cart for them.
- Brag on an employee to their boss. Everybody loves to feel appreciated. If someone does a good job, share that info with their boss. It may get them a raise or a vacation day. You just never know, but be kind.
- Give someone a hug. Hugs are the universal symbol of love. Share that love whenever you can.
- Plant a tree. It helps the environment.
- Do a chore that your spouse dislikes. If you can do that chore without your spouse asking, even better. Surprise them. They’ll love it!
- Bring someone a souvenir. It’s a great way to let them know that you thought about them while you were away.
- Do laundry for someone. laundry ranks at the bottom of the household chore list. Offer to do someone else’s laundry. It’s a simple idea, but what a relief when it’s done?
Random Acts of Kindness for Strangers or Loved Ones
- Give your favorite book to a friend. If you love a book, share it with others. Bless their day with your favorite story.
- Give directions. This isn’t quite as necessary now that everyone has GPS on their phone. But if they need to know where someplace is, share the way.
- Make cookies for your mailman. He works hard bringing your mail every day. Why not give him a sweet to make his day and thank him for all he does for you?
- Talk to the shy person at a party. That shy person would usually be me. I can vouch for the fact that if someone started a conversation with me, I would be overjoyed. Give it a try!
- Help someone who’s struggling, like a mom who needs help with a baby stroller. If you see a need, fill it. It’s as simple as that. Don’t be that person who just walks on by.
- Write nice comments on social media posts.
- Call your mom and dad. Stay in touch. Keep them updated on what’s going on in your life. Tell them you love them. Find out what they need and help them.
