Wise Ways to Make a Difference - cont. page 3
In your community
- Donate blood - save a life
- Adopt a struggling pensioner
- Mentor a child; join the 'Big Brother/Big Sister' scheme
- Visit a home-bound person through 'Do Care'
- Visit a prisoner
- Serve Christmas dinner to the disadvantaged at the Salvos or local Mission
- Become an organ donor
- Support small, independent shops and businesses
For health and wellbeing
- Encourage 'buddy' exercise with friends
- Cook nutritious meals and pass on easy recipes
- Help out to reduce someone's stress
- Donate blood - save a life
- Find ways to bring fun and pleasure into people's lives and create more smiles
- Offer words of encouragement
- Give a genuine compliment
In your environment and home
- Volunteer or join a committee to make something happen
- Choose products that are cruelty free: think before you buy
- Choose eco-friendly products
- Buy food at farmers' markets where the food is grown by local producers
- Switch off appliances at the power point to save energy; switch off lights
- Save water with buckets under the shower and kitchen sink
- Get involved in special activities such as Plant a Tree Day
- Voice an opinion: join a peaceful protest, sign petitions, write letters
- Beautify your street: plant flowers and take care of street trees
- Clean up wherever you see ugliness
- Build a sustainable home with recycled materials
- Switch to green power providers
- Join an historical or a national trust society and protect beautiful architecture
With your money
- Do business with banks, shops, enterprises that contribute to a better world
- Buy products that do no damage to people, animals or the earth
- Take a responsible holiday
- Consider a family volunteering holiday
- Instead of buying a gift to someone who has everything, donate on their behalf
- Donate money on a one-off or on a regular basis
- Sell raffle tickets to raise funds for a charity
- Give your cast-offs to charity instead of having a garage sale
- Sponsor a child
- Invest in ethical investments
- Minimise packaging and wastage: think before you throw
- Buy greeting cards, clothing and other products that support communities
- Organise fundraising events
- Sign up your workplace for a joint sponsorship or donation
Wise Words
Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realise they were the big things.
Robert Brault