Ways to Make a Difference

On June 6, 2023, my life changed with the unexpected death of my mom, Linda Hunsperger. Since then, I’ve thought of ways to keep her memory alive through random acts of kindness.

And since today is her birthday, I list small acts that can lead to big outcomes. Many of these are free; some will require money, but all will make someone feel better at the end of the day.

1. Donate the ingredients to make a birthday cake (along with party supplies) to a food pantry. I was fortunate enough to have a birthday party every year growing up. But I know not all families are as fortunate to do that for their children. This small act of kindness will make a child’s day brighter. It may end up being their only party.
2. Smile and say hello to a stranger. This can be at the store, walking down the hall at work, or in line at the bank. That smile could be the only one someone receives that day.
3. Pay for someone’s meal or drink in the line behind you. This has been a viral random act of kindness before. Try it.
4. Leave a couple of dollars taped to a vending machine. Someone’s day could be changed by having the snack in the machine they were craving but not having the cash to purchase.
5. Volunteer at a nursing home. You can decide how much time you want to give. Go an hour a week and share a talent. Maybe you can play music for the residents. Or just read a book to them.
6. Volunteer at an animal shelter. These facilities need a hand walking dogs, cleaning cages, and feeding the animals.
7. Donate a coat to a coat drive this winter. Again, growing up, I always had a warm coat on cold winter days. Not everyone has that luxury.
8. Mow your neighbor’s lawn. As I write this, summer is hanging on, and the grass must be mowed a handful more times. This gesture could save your friend or neighbor time to do something they’ve been unable to do.
9. Shovel your neighbor’s driveway or sidewalk. This is the winter version of number 8.
10. Bake a lasagna for Lasagna Love. It’s a program my buddy Brian Hampton introduced me to. People can go to the Lasagna Love website and request a meal. Then you cook a meal for them. If you’re not great in the kitchen or don’t have time, you can sponsor a volunteer to take care of that for you or donate money to support the program.
11. Hold the door open for someone. Take a few extra seconds to show someone you care.
12. Drop off a meal at your local fire, police, or ambulance station. Check first to make sure they can accept the gift.
13. Volunteer at your child’s school. One of my biggest takeaways from my childhood was how active my parents, especially my mom, were in our schools. She was PTO president for years and served in other capacities as well.
14. Donate a gently used Halloween costume to a women’s or homeless shelter. When cleaning the closets, you may encounter a Halloween costume your child only wore once. Why hold on to it? Bring the fun of Halloween to a kid who may otherwise not experience it. Or purchase costumes the day after Halloween for next year to donate.
15. Donate to any non-profit of your choice. My mom was always making a donation to a good cause. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Shriner’s Hospital, and the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) were among her favorites.
16. Purchase a turkey or sides for a Thanksgiving dinner. Many communities hold a public Thanksgiving meal and desperately need food to serve. Turkeys are always in high demand. For as little as $40, you can make a big difference on Thanksgiving. If you don’t know of a community meal where you live, my town of Carterville is doing this again this year.
17. Leave a POSITIVE review on social media. Many people complain about how toxic Facebook, X, and other platforms are. Be the change. Post good news on your timeline or leave a good review of a business on Google or social media.
18. Share a small business’s information. In the same vein as number 18, share their post with your followers, even if you can’t support the business financially. Every little bit helps when it comes to word-of-mouth advertising.
19. Call or text a family member or friend you haven’t talked to recently. You don’t need a reason; just say hey and see how things are going.
20. Donate a wrestling figure to the My 1-2-3 Cents Wrestling Figure Drive. Yes, this is a biased one, but when I started this initiative in 2018, my parents were always there to support it with a cash donation for me to go and purchase figures. This year, I set a high goal of 300 figs, which will go to Toys for Tots, supporting five southern Illinois counties. You can Venmo a donation to me @Kevin-Hunsperger. (Thank you!)
21. Give blood. There is a critical blood shortage right now. One donation can save up to three lives. Visit the American Red Cross for more details on a blood drive in your area.
    
    These are just a few ways to make a difference. Share your ideas in the comments, and go out and help someone day.