Weekly Service Challenge

Send a thoughtful note to someone else... a friend, a family member, a neighbor, a teacher.

It can be hard to stay positive in this crazy world. Bullying is prevalent, and bad things often happen to the nicest people. Having an attitude of gratitude can be helpful in optimistic. So can being kind to others. Kindness is the quality of being friendly and considerate. Showing kindness goes a long way. Kindness helps others feel valued. Kindness also has benefits for the person being kind. These benefits include:

• elevation of dopamine levels in the brain, which makes us feel good
• the feeling of emotional warmth, which leads to a healthier heart
• reduction in inflammation, which can slow the aging process
• reduction of emotional distance, which helps couples feel more bonded
• Contagiousness that often sets off a pay-it-forward ripple effect

With all of these incredible benefits, it pays in more ways than one to be kind. Being kind changes lives. It not only changes your life, but it improves the lives of those on the receiving end of kindness. Some even believe that kindness has the potential to change the whole world.

What are you waiting for you? If you need to work on kindness, World Kindness Week is the perfect time to start.

HOW TO OBSERVE #WorldKindnessWeek

Here are some ways to participate:

• Write notes of kindness on small pieces of paper and stick them in random library books
• Hand out notes of encouragement wherever you go, including the grocery store, coffee shop, etc.
• Offer to do an errand for someone like walking their dog or helping them with groceries
• Cook dinner for a friend and bring it to their home
• Give notes of appreciation to family members, coworkers, and service providers
• Pay for someone’s meal at a restaurant
• Pay for the coffee or meal of the person behind you at the drive-thru
• Give someone, or several people, a hug
• Encourage others to be kind

Come up with your own creative kindness ideas on social media and share using #WorldKindnessWeek when sharing on social media.

Celebrate Read Across America Week by promoting literacy in your community.

Some ideas:

• Volunteer to read to children at a local school, church, or community center
• Host a book drive to donate to a local organization (like BookSpring, a low-income school, women & children's shelter, or foster services)

National Girl Scout Day is a tradition celebrated annually on March 12th, the birthday of the Girl Scouts of America.  On March 12, 1912, Juliette Gordon Low registered the first-ever 18 members in Savannah, Georgia.

Give Back by supporting your local troop or council by offering inspiration.

• Share a community project or organization that you are passionate about and share how others can get involved
• Organize an event supporting Girl Scouts in a service project they are passionate about
• Inspire Girl Scouts with a personal story of women in leadership or service

Offer your time at a local nursing home and lend your talents.

• Play cards or board games
• Perform a musical or dance talent
• Simple visit and listen

The large majority of ancient cultures were patriarchal, and they practiced customs that held women in low esteem and limited their freedom. Through the centuries, many courageous women have stepped forward to fight inequality and to champion causes for the benefit of society. Their work to break down barriers has allowed future generations of women to pass through without resistance. Women’s History Month honors these women.

Some ideas:

• Read a biography about a female pioneer, perhaps Amelia Earhart, one of the first ladies of aviation, paving the way for women in the flight industry - share with other girls and women by reading at a school or church or challenging others to join you in reading the same book
• Volunteer or make a donation to an organisation for women’s education
• Post a link about your most-admired woman in history on Facebook

Promote your platform or an organization you're passionate about if you don't have one.

Do you love supporting animals? Women's causes? Fighting poverty, abuse, disease? Cleaning the environment? Share what you're passionate about online or our in your community.

In honor of National Pet day, support those who support pets!

Some ideas:

• Volunteer for a local rescue center or animal charity
• Host a donation drive for towels, food, or other items needed by a local shelter
• Fundraise online to support a local shelter

We focus our service efforts in our communities.  This week, let's bring it home by serving our own family.  That could be a parent, child, brother, sister, aunt/uncle, cousin, or even family friends.  Do something unexpected without any expectation of reward.  Some ideas:

• Mow the yard
• Make dinner
• Babysit
• Help with home maintenance
• Clean the kitchen
• Fold laundry

National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to celebrate the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, to build stronger communities and be a force that transforms the world. Each year, we shine a light on the people and causes that inspire us to serve, recognizing and thanking volunteers who lend their time, talent and voice to make a difference in their communities.

National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 and has grown exponentially each year, with thousands of volunteer projects and special events scheduled throughout the week. Today, as people strive to lead lives that reflect their values, the expression of civic life has evolved. Whether online, at the office, or the local food bank; whether with a vote, a voice, or a wallet – doing good comes in many forms, and we recognize and celebrate them all.

Since we're also nearing Earth Day, consider volunteering for a clean-up or recycling program.

Share how you volunteer in your community!

Learn more & find opportunities in your area at PointsofLight.org

Find a local fun run and volunteer! Fun runs always need volunteers to staff booths, hand out materials, cheer on participants, & more. It's an uplifting experience for all!

Always the first full week of May, National Wildflower Week commemorates the colorful blossoms that bring our landscapes to life. Whether they are on mountainsides, pastures or our own back yards, wildflowers create habitat, help conserve water and reduce erosion.

Plant flowers for yourself, a neighbor, your church, or community for National Wildflower Week.

In 1982, an annual Memorial Service gathering in Senate Park began and later became known as Police Week.  Survivors and supporters honoring those fallen peace officers grew into a series of events that now includes candlelight vigils, pipe band competitions, conferences and National Peace Officers Memorial Service which is sponsored by the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police.

For more information visit www.policeweek.org.

Honor a Police Officer by thanking one in person or by sending a Thank You Note to your local police department.

Show your appreciation for healthcare workers!

• Send a handmade card to local emergency centers
• Create outdoor chalk art or display thanking healthcare workers
• Share the personal story of a healthcare worker you know personally or who lives in your community
• Share your efforts online and encourage others to join you

Celebrate first responders and the sacrafices they and their families make every day.

Some ideas:

• Make chalk art outside thanking first responders
• Share a story with a group (could be a virtual group) of how you've personally been affected by first responders
• Order a meal to be delivered at your local EMS, Firestation, or Police Station
• Post your efforts on social media to encourage others

Volunteer to read to a class at a school, youth group, or Sunday school. Share something you're passionate about and connect through a good book. It won't just be the children who benefit, teachers and parents get fatigued this time of year with jam-packed end-of-year schedules. Bring some stress relief to everyone through a good book!

There are a number of different volunteer opportunities during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even Earth Day. However, many people forget that holidays such as Memorial Day are more than just a weekend to cook out and spend time with family. They also represent a great opportunity to give back.
Honor lives of those list in militart service.  Consider saying "I hope you're having a meaningful day" rather than "Thank You for Your Service" on Memorial day as we honor lives lost.  Service ideas include:

• Help out at a parade
• Place flags on tomestones or in your neighborhood
• Place flowers on tombstones
• Reach out to a survivor
• Give what you can or conduct a fundraiser for The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) 
• Donate blood to American Red Cross

Connect with a local Safe Place, Diaper Bank, or other shelter and donate diapers. Ask what sizes are most needed (it's often larger sizes. Many are even set up with Amazon Wish Lists that you can share on social media.

Honor someone you know or look up to past or present on your social media and/or blog

Reach out to a sister queen, local pageant friend, or even someone outside of the pageant community. Ask them what their passion service project is and join in!

Who is an amazing father in your life or in history? Share details about waht makes them great and how he supports or supported those around him.

Donate to your local food bank, make a meal for someone in need, or share about your favorite charity that supports food need.

1. National Grocery Stores

If you would like to DONATE MONEY TOWARDS SCHOOL SUPPLIES this year, a great place to start is in grocery stores. This year, Publix is doing a campaign to raise money to purchase school supplies called TOOLS FOR SCHOOL. To participate in this campaign, Publix is looking for gifts of $5, $7 or $10 that can be purchased at the register. Last year, Publix collected more than $1.8 million in school supplies!

2. The Salvation Army

THE SALVATION ARMY is a great place to donate school supplies this year. Each branch of the Salvation Army coordinates programs for collecting school supplies. The Salvation Army asks that you contact your local Salvation Army for instructions and information on donating school supplies. You can FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU on its website.

3. Public Libraries & Public Schools

Other great places to donate school supplies are at local public libraries and directly to public schools. A lot of libraries will offer specific places for donating, but if you don’t see something right away, ask someone at the front desk for help. Even if they aren’t able to accept donations, they will most likely be able to help locate a drop off location. You can also donate directly to your local public schools and they can make sure the supplies are getting in the right hands.

4. Local Churches

Many churches organize back to school supplies drives as summer ends and the school year approaches. If you are part of a church that doesn’t have a back to school drive, consider talking to your pastor or other church leaders about starting one through your church.

5. Start Your Own School Supply Drive

If you have some time on your hands, consider organizing your own school supply drive. CREATETHEGOOD.ORG offers great advice and steps for starting your own drive. Some of the main steps include asking for help from friends, picking a school and figuring out what’s needed, drafting a simple plan, promoting your drive and dropping off your supplies after your event has ended.

This could be in your neighborhood or someone else's!

Send a thoughtful note to someone else... a friend, a family member, a neighbor, a teacher.