Doing random acts of kindness is a feel-good gesture that keeps on giving year-round, but actually has its very own day. We celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17th, but here are some ideas for you to perform and to encourage others to pay it forward all year long.
Buy a veteran some groceries.
Even the smallest act of kindness can go a long way to make someone feel appreciated. If you live on post or are just visiting and staying at IHG® Army Hotels, offer to buy the groceries of someone behind you in the commissary. Ask them to pay forward some kindness to someone else and keep the gesture going.
And if groceries are beyond your budget, purchase a coffee or sandwich for someone who looks like they need some kindness.
Help a family of someone deployed.
Whether you've been deployed yourself or understand the stress it can cause families, you can celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day by offering to help. Start by alleviating the day-to-day stress by organizing subscription delivery services for non-perishable items, getting emergency paperwork in order, helping schedule regular doctor appointments for the next year, or helping around their home if they’re open to it.
You can also organize the community to pitch in with acts of kindness throughout the deployment. Find out what the family needs the most, from lawn service to grocery delivery.
Join a fundraiser.
Support your favorite charity and give back to the military community at the same time. Try the Gary Sinise Foundation, started by the actor and advocate for the nation's military. Among other projects, the foundation builds adaptable homes for wounded veterans and provides meals to military members in need.
You can also look around for local 5k's and events to help set-up, organize, and break-down a fundraiser for your favorite charity. If you can't find what you're looking for to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day, start your own fundraiser on Facebook and raise money through their designated app to donate to your favorite charity.
Volunteer at an army hospital or clinic.
Army hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes all need volunteers to help with a variety of tasks. Offer to help clean-up or organize an activity, or just come and chat with the residents who need a friend.
You can also blend an upcoming vacation with acts of kindness. Look for IHG® Army Hotels near a service you're passionate about, like Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii.
Call in advance, or coordinate with the Red Cross, about volunteering on-site during your stay. A blend of rewarding volunteer service and stops to Pearl Harbor Memorial or hiking to the Diamond Head volcanic crater turns your vacation into a transformative experience you'll never forget.
Babysit for someone.
Offering to support someone with childcare if you have the time – it can bring unspeakable joy to parents who need a hand, not to mention add some needed free time to their schedule.
The next time you're on post at Candlewood Suites® on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, volunteer to be a chaperone through the local school our scouting organzation in order to take some military kids to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville Botanical Garden or hiking at Monte Sano State Park for a day of exploring.
If you really want to make someone's day, combine babysitting with a few hours of tutoring or cleaning up the house for acts of kindness a family will never forget. Weary parents get to end the day with happy children and a clean house to go to bed refreshed.
Throw a party on post.
Do you live on post or are you headed out on vacation during Random Acts of Kindness Day? Offer to host a get-together at IHG® Army Hotels and invite friends, acquaintances, and anyone who could use a little brightness in their day.
Create a Random Acts of Kindness banner and encourage everyone to perform one task, whether it’s buying a stranger coffee or pitching in to help someone in need. Stock up on snacks from the commissary and create your festivity that celebrates the day.
Organize a card drive.
An old-fashioned greeting card is a personal way to thank a veteran for their service or reach out to someone who needs a friend. Post a request on social media to donate a personalized card and send them to a military hospital or a deployed unit overseas. Adding some pictures drawn by children or offering to meet up for coffee when they're in town is also a touching way to show someone the world still cares. You can even use services like Sandboxx to help spread your message of kindness.
Surprise someone with lunch.
In a fast-paced world where we rarely have time to pause and reflect, buying someone lunch can spark sheer delight. Look for a military vet or really anyone in need and pick up their lunch bill. Alternatively, put together a to-go box of sandwiches, chips, fruit, and drinks from a local deli and bring to the staff of a military officer.
No one forgets the face of someone who buys them lunch, so be prepared to make a friend for life.
Pay for someone's museum entrance.
Museums are an intimate way to learn more about our nation's history, science, and art. Encourage someone else to enjoy it for themselves by picking up their entrance fee.
It not only encourages random acts of kindness but allows that person to spread the wealth. Whether they buy someone else's entrance fee or uses their extra money to support someone in need, you're creating a domino effect of kindness.
Bake someone a sweet treat.
Baked goods make any day better. Spread some acts of kindness by putting together baked treats like cookies, brownies, fudge, or your favorite signature dessert and package up in sealed bags and tins.
Drop your treats off around post, at your neighbors, or at places of business you appreciate, whether a local market or local fire station. You can also leave it on your front porch and leave a sign for the delivery people to enjoy. Remember to keep your treats as allergen-free as possible so everyone can participate.
The best part of performing random acts of kindness is the momentum keeps going. It's surprisingly rewarding and fulfilling to spread acts of kindness to others. The more you spread the love, the more contagious it is for you and everyone around you.
