50 Random Acts of Kindness Ideas

February is the month for love. You probably already have plans to shower your Valentine with love. Now consider spreading the love to other family, friends, coworkers and even strangers with this list of Random Acts of Kindness Ideas. You just might make someone’s day or give a little encouragement to someone who really needs it. And you’ll have an extra spring in your step too, knowing you did something nice for someone else.

1. Give up your place in line at the store to someone behind you.

2. Hold the door for someone.

3. Pay for the order for the person behind you at the coffee shop or restaurant.

4. Help a stranger load their groceries into the car.

5. Compliment a stranger.

6. Drop off cookies to public service workers like police officers and firemen.

7. Pick up litter and throw it away.

8. Clear snow from a neighbor’s sidewalk or driveway.

9. Thank a veteran or current member of the military for their service.

10. Leave money in the vending machine to pay for the next visitor’s snack.

11. Hand out encouraging notes to strangers when you’re out shopping, dining or commuting to work.

12. Drop off toys, coloring books and crayons to children at the local hospital.

13. Visit a local nursing home and take the time to sit and talk with some of the residents.

14. Leave gift baskets on your neighbors’ porches.

15. Mow the lawn for someone in your neighborhood.

16. Rake leaves for someone in your neighborhood.

17. Say thank you to the teachers and other workers at your child’s school.

18. When you make dinner, double the recipe. Give the extra meal to someone who needs a break from meal duty.

19. Send a care package to a member of the military serving overseas.

20. Donate blood, sign up for the organ donor’s list or the bone marrow donation list.

21. Leave your waiter or waitress an extra-large tip.

22. Leave a positive comment on someone’s social media post.

23. Bring doughnuts to work.

24. Smile and greet strangers you pass on the street.

25. Give a busy parent the night off by offering to babysit for free.

26. Bring treats to give to dogs at the park. (Be sure to ask their owner if they can have it first.)

27. Make an extra lunch and leave it in the fridge at work with a note that says it’s for anyone who forgot their lunch.

28. Talk to the person standing by themselves in the corner at the next gathering you attend.

29. Let cars merge in front of you when traffic is crazy.

30. Find out when co-workers have birthdays and leave anonymous gifts on their desks.

31. Recommend a local business you love to friends and family.

32. Skip your daily latte and donate the money to a charity.

33. Leave used books and magazines you no longer need somewhere in public with a note encouraging others to help themselves.

34. Bring extra bottles of water to the gym and leave them in the locker room.

35. The next time the ice cream truck comes down your street, pay for a treat for all the neighborhood kids. (Check with mom and dad first.)

36. Organize a clothing swap for families in your community.

37. Buy whatever the neighborhood kid is selling for a fundraiser. If you don’t want the item, gift it to someone else.

38. Leave a note for your spouse or child telling them how much you appreciate them.

39. If you have extra coupons when you’re at the grocery store, offer them to other shoppers.

40. Spend an hour with your child doing an activity of their choice.

41. Offer to weed you neighbor’s flowerbed.

42. Leave a thank you note for your mail carrier in the mailbox.

43. Payoff a stranger’s layaway bill at a department store.

44. Payoff overdue lunch accounts at the local school.

45. If you receive excellent service from a worker, be sure to let their manager know.

46. Take extra winter hats and gloves to the school for children who don’t have them.

47. Donate your talents and skills by offering to tutor students at the local school for free.

48. Buy groceries to donate to the local food pantry.

49. Give a teacher a gift card to buy supplies for their classroom.

50. If you attend a school sporting event or performance, be sure to tell the students, “Good job!” afterward.