Ten Easy Ways to Help Others “Wear”

by Jamie Moesser on June 12th, 2012 | No Comments »

This week's Season of Service verb relates to service opportunities that involve the word "wear," whether that means making something someone else can wear, buying clothes for someone who can't afford them, or even wearing something different yourself. Like our post on "making" service opportunities, this is for you creative types. Use your talents with a sewing machine, cloth, or shopping to help others, even in bite-size ways. Here are some ideas:

10 Bite-Size Ways to Wear Service

Sew two children's t-shirts for Romanian orphans, to be delivered by Bridge of Love.
Sew a festive tablecloth for summer picnics by re-using red, white, or blue t-shirts that you or your family members have outgrown.
Teach your kids (both daughters and sons) how to sew on a button or mend a sock. These are valuable skills that are being lost with the easy accessibility of cheap goods.
Teach your kids (both daughters and sons) how to do one load of laundry. Make a game or competition out of it, if you can. Giving them that skill not only helps them be more self-sufficient, but takes a load off your back!
Donate five articles of used clothing to your local homeless shelter.
Donate a special outfit that you've made to your favorite nonprofit, so they can auction it off at their next fundraising event. My mother-in-law donated a beautiful Barbie wedding dress that she had hand-made, and was surprised to learn that bidders fought for it, and that it ultimately sold for over $100!
Host a potluck lunch/playdate at your house, and ask each of your guests to bring a skirt or pair of slacks to donate, and take them to Dress for Success or YWCA.
Knit a sweater for an Algerian child, and send it to Algerian Action.
Volunteer to teach a one-time sewing class at a homeless or women's shelter.
Make a make-shift Maori cloak out of a table cloth or skirt, and learn about the Maori people with your kids.

How Will You Give to Others This Week?

Have you ever done any of these things? How did it go?
What other acts of service have inspired you?
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?

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.