The problems of poverty, natural disaster, war, social injustice and human suffering around the globe seem too immense for any one person to have an impact. I always thought that I needed unlimited resources to make the world a better place. Believing this prevented me from acting at all. Not long ago, I realized that my inaction was nonsensical. By simply focusing on what I can do, rather than on what I can’t, potential ways to help became visible. Here are four simple things we can all do.
GROCERY STORE
Each time you go to the grocery store, buy kids’ fruit snacks and healthy treats to put into the store’s food shelf donation box. If your grocery store does not have a donation box, talk to the manager to get one there. You can’t image the joy that a child gets from these simple treats. Also think about purchasing items that do not require perishable ingredients. It is a sad realization when there is peanut butter but no bread, or macaroni and cheese but no milk.
YOUR OWN CLOSET
Go through your closets looking for items that are in good shape that you no longer use. You can donate these goods to a nonprofit like Goodwill or The Salvation Army, or to shelters in your area.
WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Host a dinner party and tell your friends and family about a nonprofit that you are passionate about. Word of mouth is the best marketing tool for any business!
GIVING GIFTS
Buy gifts that are “BOGO” (Buy one – Get one), like Tom’s Shoes or the BoGo SunLight Solar flashlight. This way, you can give a gift to someone, and then the company gives the same item to someone in poverty. Purchase fair trade items from an organization like Ten Thousand Villages or Fair Indigo. Take a few extra minutes to search for products that benefit others — the time you spend will be worth it!
Sometimes they are hard to see, but opportunities to make a difference are never far away. All we have to do is look.Spread Hope,
Stephanie Kinnunen
Editor in Chief and Co-Founder
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