What would be considered a random act of kindness for the holidays?

Question

I already give to charity, and open doors for people. I need a good idea that's not the norm.

Answer 1

How about cooking dinner, buying several bags of groceries or ordering several pizzas for the firefighters at your local firehouse?

Answer 2

There are several things that anyone can do, some that are free to you but mean a lot to others. Many people have already mentioned ways to help the elderly, all very good ideas. Another thing that I do on a yearly basis is go through all my old blankets and donate them to the Humane Society, they use them for bedding. Donate food and/or your time to a soup kitchen. Go to a pharmacy and leave money there for someone who cannot afford their prescription. The pharmacists know their customers for the most part and will be sure that someone who is truly needy benefits. Offer free baby sitting services to friends who need time to shop or wrap gifts or just have some alone time.
When I was a young mother and my husband and I were struggling to make ends meet, one of the nicest things that anyone ever did for us was to leave a bag of baby clothes on our doorstep anonymously. Another time, a customer of my husbands surprised us with an all expense paid trip to Cedar Point amusement park, something that was just beyond our reach financially and something my kids or I will ever forget.

Answer 3

Here are some random acts that I've done:
1. Buy some cheap umbrellas, maybe in a dollar store. About 10 of them if you can afford $10. Hand them out during a rainstorm to people stuck in the rain.
2. Make a big thermos of hot chocolate and bring styrafoam cups with covers. Hand out cups of cocoa to anyone you see shoveling, plowing, etc in the snow. Also don't forget to offer some to police who are outside at construction sites, tollbooth workers, and Salvation Army bell ringers.
3. Speaking of toll booths, pay for the car behind you.
4. Shovel out a stranger's car from the snow.
5. If you are good with crafts, crochet or knit a prayer shawl for someone who is grieving or terminally ill. See http://www.shawlministry.com/ for instructions.
6. For animals, call your local shelter to see what items they need. Sometimes it's something simple like the cardboard base from a case of soda(cat shelters often use these as litterboxes!) Be sure to check with them first, and consider starting a collection for these items at your workplace or school.
7. Find websites (see Yahoo answers for them) that let you send email to soldiers overseas. There are even regular mail addresses so you can write letters to them to pick up their morale.
9.Give old toys and children's books(in clean condition) to area hospitals or doctor's offices to keep kids entertained. Again you could start a collection.
The main point is be creative and pick what you like best. Any little surprise of kindness helps. And don't forget: the best kindness we can all do is drive courteously-all year round.

Answer 4

These are all fine answers but I would just like people to be civil to me. Holidays are very stressful and doubly so for parents. About 80% or the population is now having at least some trouble making ends meet.

It actually makes me feel good if someone doesn’t try to cut in front of me or try to crowd through a door first. Common courtesy is often the most appreciated and it doesn’t cost the giver anything.

I’m a white male over 50 and I have to use this time to let all of the little boy punks to stop playing grab-*** in the stores. This type of juvenile behavior seems to be on the rise with the 16 through 24 year olds. One of these little punks bumped into my wife the other day, she is disabled and has a difficult time walking, and almost knocked her down. Him and his friends, both male and female, just giggled and started to run off until I got a hold of him and literally shook him until he wet his pants. Someone in the store called the cops and they asked me if we wanted to press charges, we said no. My wife and I both felt that the public humiliation of the “young man” of about 20 wetting himself in public was punishment enough.

Just try to be a little courteous. You don’t need to make turkey dinners or anything like that.

Answer 5

After watching the movie (Pay It Forward) and helping me with various volunteer activities, my son (now 14) began a group they call U MADE (You Make a Difference Everyday) a few years ago.

Not looking like your average honor roll students (which most of them are) these young men, and girls now, too (wearing U MADE T-shirts) perform RAOKs every month. During the holiday season and summer break they visit shelters and assisted living facilities to help with ANY task.

Read to children, drive or ride bus to Doctor appointments, pick up prescriptions (w/parent), grocery shop, light housework and yardwork, auto maintenance, etc. One young girl started a walking club with seniors. Another boy helps at the local grocery shopping, carrying and storing items for a neighborhood group home.

Any act of kindness, if done sincerely, not for patting yourself on the back, will be gratefully accepted and gratifying, too. Ask a minister at a local church if any of his parishioners need help. Check with your county resource staff to volunteer to read or assist at a shelter. Go to your local "Y" and ask if there are children who have special needs met or Christmas Wish Lists that might be fulfilled. Involve others in your activities and the joy they bring to others and TO YOU cannot be measured.

Sorry the answer is long...the lists of ways to help is too! Happy Holidays!

Answer 6

Cut out all the coupons from your paper and use them for what you need, but take along the ones you don't and put them on the appropriate item as you walk up and down the aisles. Somebody may need them. Also, if you can afford it, pay a certain amount towards the groceries the person behind you has. If you know what I mean. I don't know if that came out right. :-)

Answer 7

My favorite thing to do at Christmas time is find a friend that is not able to afford a Christmas and I give them one. I get everything they need to have a decent meal and buy little gifts for each family member. It gives your heart a boost. I leave it all on their doorstep on Christmas eve. They never know who does it but I hear about it later and never tell them who I am.

Answer 8

If there are some less fortunate people you know, you could give them a gift card to a grocery store so they can make a nice christmas dinner.

Answer 9

If you have an Elder Neighbor -- offer to help with outdoor chores this winter -- shovel off their sidewalk or drive (if it is snowing in your area) ... or offer your family for the day to Rake their Yard of Leaves/lawn debris!

Answer 10

i agree that helping an elderly person with his/her lawn or snowy sidewalk is the best random act of kindness there is. i shoveled my neighbors sidewalk (he didn't know i did it) seeing the expression of appreciation that lit his face was worth more than any payment that i could have ever received.