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National Random Acts of Kindness Day is an annual observance that encourages people to perform acts of kindness for strangers or loved ones. It falls on Feb. 17 and is a day dedicated to spreading love, joy, and kindness by doing something nice for someone else without any expectation of a reward. Here at The Krazy Coupon Lady, we are huge proponents of random acts of kindness and giving back to our communities. The KCL Foundation has been helping support refugees since 2014 through education and donation of goods purchased using extreme couponing strategies.
The concept of random acts of kindness is based on the idea that even small gestures of kindness can have a significant impact on someone’s day. This day serves as a reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a difference and that we should strive to spread kindness and positivity every day.
We know 2023 is already off to a difficult financial start for many families, so here are nine free ways you can participate in National Random Acts of Kindness Day. It doesn’t have to be expensive, and as always, it’s the thought that counts!
Raid your couponing stockpile and donate to a local charity.
If you’ve stockpiled quite a few shampoo bottles or canned goods, shop your pantry today and choose a bag of items to donate to a local charity. Feeding America is a great resource to find local food banks in your area to drop off a donation. You can also visit domesticshelters.org and search for charitable wish lists for shelters in your area. Many of these shelters need things like laundry detergent, hand soap, and paper products — all the things we’ve taught you to save money on!
Drop off old clothes at a local shelter.
If you have a local shelter or mission in your town, today is a great day to declutter your closet and bring a load of gently used clothing to donate. It costs you nothing but a little time to fill up a paper bag or two of clothes that someone else could use. Be sure to check for local drop-off guidelines and drive it over today.
Bring gently used towels and blankets to an animal shelter.
If you have old towels and blankets that are still in good shape but taking up room in your linen closet, the lovable animals at your local animal shelter would love to put them to good use. It’s still chilly in many parts of the country, and letting a pet curl up with a new blanket is much better than letting it sit unused in your closet.
Many shelters will also take gently used dog toys as long as they’re still in good shape. If your dog or cat has lost interest in a few of their old toys, toss them in the box with the towels and blankets to give the fur babies something new to play with while they wait for their fur-ever home.
Related: How to Save Money
Take advantage of a food freebie and donate it to someone else.
We love our food freebies, and Random Acts of Kindness Day is an ideal way to share the love! What better way to use the February food freebies than to donate them to someone else? Whether you score your freebie and give it to the car behind you in the drive-thru, pass it along to someone in need on your drive home, or even just treat your favorite coworker to a free snack, this one is a great free way to show kindness.
Send a letter to the troops.
This one will cost you the price of a stamp (and a small donation, if you wish), but we think it’s well worth it. Charities like Operation Gratitude and A Million Thanks offer services to help you send letters to active, reserve, and veteran military. You can choose to send one letter or get a group of friends together and write several. Follow the guidelines for sending the letters to the charity and they’ll get your mail sent to U.S. military or to troops overseas.
Send a free letter through St. Judes Children’s Hospital.
St. Jude Children’s Hospital offers a free service to send a kind message and card to their patients. You’ll select from premade card designs (with artwork inspired by real patients), write a message or select from a prewritten message, and then send the message to one of their patients. It only takes a couple of minutes and could make a child’s day.
Other hospitals like Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia allow you to send free e-cards to patients. Do a search for “free cards” and the name of your local children’s hospital to see if they offer this service.
Drop off a thank-you note at your local fire department or police department.
If you’ve got a group of volunteer firefighters in your town, today is a great day to offer up some appreciation. Let them know how much you appreciate their time given to your local community. Drop the note off at the station, or mail it if you’ve got a spare stamp. You can also do this for your local police department or any local military offices.
Offer up your skills to someone in need for free.
Do you secretly have a talent for the piano? Do your home cooking skills rival some restaurant chefs? If you’ve got a talent or skill, share it with someone today for free. Offer a free piano lesson to kids in your neighborhood. Cook a family dinner for the mom across the street who gets home late from work every night. Offer to help a friend with their resume or cover letter if they’re trying to get back into the job market. Think about anything you’re good at and offer to help someone else using that skill.
Leave a kind note for a coworker or friend with no explanation.
Do you have a coworker that just makes you smile? Or a supportive friend you’re grateful for? Put your gratitude down on paper and leave them a thoughtful note letting them know how much their kindness means to you. You can sign it or leave it anonymous; it’s completely up to you!
