Commit random acts of generosity
Use your skills and resources to help someone you hardly know or even a stranger.
Why? Most of us have something that we are good at and sharing this with someone outside our immediate circle of friends can make a big impact. It doesn’t even have to be a skill – just doing something kind for others is all it takes to make the world a more generous place. What about…
- Babysitting (for a single parent perhaps)
- Lawn-mowing (or lend out your lawnmower)
- Gardening (weed removal!)
- Computer repair or advice
- Cook a meal (for new parents, or for those too ill to cook for themselves)
- DIY (painting, decorating, plumbing… or lend out your tools/equipment)
Don’t hide your random act under a bush though – add it as a comment to the Generous website, so we can share ideas and encourage one another.
Link: Visit www.helpothers.org for many more ideas!
Join the fray by signing in.
taunton, GB , 01 Oct 2005
Perhaps we ought to ask people before mowing their lawns or doing their weeding…!
I often hold back from offering help to people I don’t know too well as I worry they’ll think I’m viewing them as a charity case. But then I see my unchurched friends offer help to virtual strangers all the time, and it’s usually accepted without quesiton and without offence. So perhaps I should just take a leaf out of their book and stop stressing about what people think of me!
GB , 02 Oct 2005
on an even smaller scale I was able to help a stranger this week by giving him a visitors parking permit. we have zoned parking with complicated rules and incredibly ferocious wardens.
anyway it helped him and out of a spot and made me feel good!
12 Oct 2005
Have you read ‘Join me’ by Danny Wallace? it’s really funny, he started a cult, by accident, which is all about doing random acts of kindness; it sounds weird, but it’s cool! go to http://www.join-me.co.uk/story.html
Kilkenny, IE , 03 Nov 2005
I used to work in IT (before fulltime Christian Ministry) so perhaps I can help people get familiar with PC software etc. I’m sure there are plenty of others who find technology easy and can pass on their skills?
06 Nov 2005
Why does it have to be random?? Surely an intentional and thought out act of kindness is likely to have more of an effect.
06 Nov 2005
Why does it have to be random?? Surely an intentional and thought out act of kindness is likely to have more of an effect.
Richmond, GB , 08 Nov 2005
I prefer spontaneous acts, which are kinda random in that they’re done when and where they feel right. The trick is to have your eyes seeing.
Worthing, GB , 01 Dec 2005
Generosity shoudkl always respond to immediate need! I am a teacher, and last week one of my girls told me her mum had had a new baby and had to go back into hospital, leaving the dad with 3 other kids, so I gave them a homemade apple pie. Home baking is always appreciated!
Singapore, SG , 19 Dec 2005
As Ceri mentions, Danny Wallace’s Karma Army is encouraging actions is just this field: I’m proud to be a member
London, GB , 24 Jan 2006
Sometimes I bring random baked goods into the office for no reason other than that I’m feeling generous that day, but sadly what is intended as an act of sharing is often viewed by some with great suspicion and I can’t help but feel hurt when people are suspicious like that. I don’t know if this counts but the other day I bought a homeless guy a sandwich – I’ve wanted to do that for years since I don’t give money to homeless people, but I got quite nervous about offering homeless people food after I offered a man some rolls 3 years ago (he was begging for money with a sign saying “Hungry and homeless”, and he was almost venomously angry when I gave him the rolls, as he apparently wanted money, not food…)
04 Feb 2006
I once sat inside a restaurant looking at my plate piled up with hot food,sitting immediatley outside was a homeless person, it was a very cold night. I wrapped up some of the food and took it outto him. I said I hoped he wasnt offended but he was so thankful. Don’t give up trying!
26 Feb 2006
recent acts generocity;
looking after cat while neighbour moves
giving veterinary help to clients in financial difficulty
13 Mar 2006
I’ve challenged the youth club I run to commit to 40 acts of kindness for lent – hopefully we’ll all be continuing after lent too!
30 Mar 2006
Often things seem random to others but you know why you felt you had to do it – cook a meal for someone, invite lonely mum round to tea (yes, chaos with lots of children), send a card to someone – or just call them.
Glastonburry, GB , 24 May 2006
It was raining quite fierce, So I gave a soaked stranger my beautiful golf umbrella.
Bloody HELL! I miss that umbrella. Sometimes generosity is painful.
Milton Keynes, GB , 19 Aug 2006
I watched a film we had taped ages ago last night called pay it forward – where people comitted acts of kindness (had to change their lives in some way) for three poeple and then asked them to do the same to three more people – you weren’t allowed to pay back – but pay forward. Ok was v hollywood, blockbuster film and hard not to be cynical at the film’s ending of thousands of people being affected in just four months -but I like the idea behind it.
Birmingham, GB , 10 Oct 2006
I know someone who is moving to a new place to look into the idea of setting up a tea shop, so thought I’d send her some inspiration in the form of a book called ‘a nice cup of tea and a sit down’. I like the idea of sharing good books and things that have inspired me or made me laugh.
20 Jun 2008
Where I work, there is very little room to park cars (sorry, I need to drive because the public transport is too bad to enable me and my toddler daughter to travel to and from work/nursery). I found a place to park and there appeared to be enough room to for one more small car behind mine. However, when a small car did in fact come along just after I had parked it was obvious that if I moved up just a little it would be easier for this person to park. So, I moved my car forward about a foot and felt really good for making another person’s day just that bit easier.
20 Jun 2008
Where I work, there is very little room to park cars (sorry, I need to drive because the public transport is too bad to enable me and my toddler daughter to travel to and from work/nursery). I found a place to park and there appeared to be enough room to for one more small car behind mine. However, when a small car did in fact come along just after I had parked it was obvious that if I moved up just a little it would be easier for this person to park. So, I moved my car forward about a foot and felt really good for making another person’s day just that bit easier.
Cambridge, GB , 19 Sep 2008
My most random act of kindness this week was giving a Big Issue Vender the money to pay a weeks rent for the hostle he’s staying at.It was only £20.I think our society tends to turn a blind eye to the homeless,i’m sure of it.The only words of wisdom i see fit to give on the matter are,please,just spend a moment trying to imagine what it is like to be in their shoes,then take them to one side and ask them their name.