Thank you for the kind words about the Random Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar I shared earlier this week! Some of you asked for more ideas, so I put together a list. These ideas include things we’ve found online and ones we’ve done ourselves in past years.
This year, I printed business-card-sized notes, cut them out, and attached them to gift tags. We’re tucking them into small gifts and bags of change to share around our community. It’s a simple way to spread kindness, and you’re welcome to use the PDF if it helps!
Here are some Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) ideas, especially for the holiday season:
- When shopping for gifts, choose items that support charitable causes. For example, (RED) products—sold by companies like Apple and Starbucks—donate a percentage of profits to the fight against AIDS. Supporting these causes helps create a positive impact.
- Donate food to a local pantry. Summer is an especially crucial time, so consider marking your calendar to give again mid-year.
- Give blood.
- Leave bags of quarters taped to laundromat machines.
- Make soup and deliver it to someone who could use a warm meal.
- Surprise a stranger with a Christmas wreath.
- Donate toys to organizations like Toys for Tots.
- Offer to help someone load groceries into their car.
- Buy a lottery ticket and give it to a stranger.
- Send a gift anonymously to brighten someone’s day.
- Let someone cut ahead of you in a checkout line.
- Take a few minutes to pick up litter around your neighborhood.
- Check in with an elderly neighbor to see if they need assistance.
- Donate books to libraries, schools, or shelters.
- Return a shopping cart for someone who might need help.
- Purchase a gift card at a restaurant or mall food court and give it to the person behind you in line.
- Tape a gift certificate for a free car wash to a stranger’s car.
- Send a care package to a soldier through programs like Operation Care Packages.
- Volunteer your time at a local charity.
- Share an old, funny photo with a friend to make them smile.
- Donate diapers to families in need through organizations like the National Diaper Bank Network.
- Compliment a hardworking employee by sending positive feedback to their manager.
- Leave a good book in a hospital waiting room with a note inviting someone to take it.
- Tape a bag of coins to a vending machine for the next person to use.
- While doing your Christmas shopping, hand a coupon to the person behind you in line. It’s a simple way to make someone’s day easier.
- Bring flowers to the administrative staff or secretaries at local schools. They often go unrecognized but play a crucial role.
- Offer a coffee to someone working outside in the cold. It’s a thoughtful way to show appreciation.
- Hold the door open for people entering and leaving a public place for a few minutes. Greet each one with a cheerful “Merry Christmas!”
- Compliment a parent you see in a store with young children. A kind word can mean a lot to someone juggling kids and errands.
- Drop off warm socks at your community’s senior center. This small gesture can provide comfort during winter.
- Leave an extra-generous tip for your server at a restaurant.
- Hide a few dollar bills around a Dollar Store for others to find as a fun surprise.
- If someone seems upset or in a bad mood, offer forgiveness and show them extra kindness.
- Help a neighbor shovel snow from their driveway or walkway.
- Surprise your family members with a small treat, like their favorite snack or a handwritten note.
- Deliver a simple gift, like cookies or a card, to your neighbors.
- Make it a goal to compliment every person you interact with for one entire day.
- Sponsor a child through a charitable organization, such as Compassion, to make a long-term difference.
- Pay for the order of the person behind you in a coffee drive-through.
- Ask someone if they’d like help wrapping their Christmas presents.
A Word on Keeping It Real
If this list seems overwhelming, know that I’ve been there too. Despite my best intentions, my kids and I have only managed one random act of kindness so far in the six days of Advent. We’ll have a busy night catching up, dashing around town spreading cheer under the cover of darkness.
Also, let me be clear—my house is messy, and my kids just reminded me they’re out of clean clothes. This isn’t about being perfect. The purpose of doing random acts of kindness with my kids is to encourage them to think about others instead of focusing only on themselves. It’s not about adding more stress to an already hectic season.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by holiday pressures, take a moment to slow down and reset:
- Take a deep breath.
- Play Christmas music that makes you happy. (start here!)
- Light a candle with a comforting scent.
- Let go of the non-essentials. Skipping some decorations won’t ruin Christmas.
- Carve out a few minutes for yourself. Have a cup of tea or coffee, and find peace in the little things.
Enjoy the beauty and spirit of the season. Watch a Christmas movie or simply savor the quiet moments.
Wishing you a holiday season filled with fun, peace, joy, and calm amidst the chaos. Thank you for taking the time to visit and read!
