Celebrate National Kindness Week

Small businesses flourish through word of mouth! Support a local small business by recommending that business to your friends and associates.

Find a book you love and write a message in the front of the book explaining why it means so much to you. Then donate that book to a library.

Communities thrive on clean and safe neighborhoods as well as shared spaces such as parks and sidewalks. Spend a few minutes picking up litter and garbage that you find and throw it away.

Adopt a street corner for one week. Make a point to pull a few weeds or even plant a few wildflower seeds.

Introduce yourself to the closest neighbor you’ve never talked to. Bring some food and knock on their door. Knowing your neighbors is a good step toward building a strong community.

The most needed items for women’s shelters are diapers, car seats and clothing. Your donation will help a family who may be going through the worst time of their life.

The next time you go grocery shopping, for the first five non-perishable food items you select, buy an extra one. Many stores have food donation drop boxes located inside. You can also drop off these extras at a local food bank, shelter or church.

Little deeds make a big impact! Try buying someone’s coffee the next time you are in a drive-thru or buy a lottery ticket and give it to the next stranger you meet.

After you unload your shopping cart, look around and find other shopping carts that may be blocking a parking space or haphazardly lying in a road. Not only will this make a safer environment but also a cleaner one.

Clean up a piece of graffiti in your neighborhood, either with cleaning solution or by painting over it. Graffiti sends negative messages and makes people feel that their community is less safe.