Service Ideas: 10 Ways to Help People Heal

giving back • my world • Mom It Forward Mondays • tips for giving back

by Mom It Forward on December 19th, 2011 | 1 Comment »

A man named John Bunyan once said: "You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." I don't know about you, but I would really like to fully live, and I truly believe that one way we do that is to help others, even in small ways. Those "small ways" add up and really do make a difference. Take this week's Season of Service challenge, based on the verb "heal," and do just one of the bite-size actions listed below. You will heal not only others but yourself as well, guaranteed.

10 Bite-Size Ways to Heal Others

Help people heal from an addiction to tobacco by redesigning a tobacco education resource for South Australian teachers, through this Sparked challenge.
Help update the website of the Alzheimer's Family Services Center, an organization that helps heal families dealing with Alzheimers.
Learn how to recognize the signs of abuse so that you can help a friend, relative, or co-worker get the healing treatment they need.
Check out this music by Lisa Ostrow, a woman who is trying to help find a cure for Polycystic Kidney Disease.
Break out the shaving cream, cookie sheets, and appropriate protective gear and make shaving cream art with your kids, to experience its healing, relaxing, smile-inducing effects.
Send a free e-card to a hospitalized veteran.
Help heal a friend's depression just a little by calling them or visiting them today, and making a commitment that you'll do so regularly.
Take a bag of stuff you would normally put in your recycling bin and give it to a homeless person, who can then take it to a recycling center and get a little cash for it.
Donate unused prescription medicines or used stamps to Intercare for Africa, a UK-based organization that provides healing medical aid for Africa.
Buy a small fleece blanket, attach a short but encouraging note, and drop it off at a local women's shelter or donate it to Blanket Statements if you're in Illinois.

How Will You Give to Others This Week?

What other ideas do you have for helping others heal?
Has healing someone made a meaningful difference for you this week?
How have others given to you this week and what difference has that made in your life?

How Else Can You Make a Difference This Season?

Make a meaningful difference this season by taking the Season of Service (SOS) Challenge. Here’s how you can participate:

Commit to do one act of kindness/service based on the week’s challenge.
Leave a comment with ideas relating to the week’s challenge as well as your experience(s) performing it.
Enter to win this week’s giveaway.
Join #gno this Tuesday on Twitter to connect with other Mom It Forward moms about the challenge.