Maybe you think we have the change we can believe in.
Maybe you wish the future was, instead, more familiar.
This blog promises to be sprinkled with occasional political commentary. But here, on this page, it would actually be great to act as if there’s no such thing.
Whatever your socio-political beliefs, hopefully you realize the gravity of our moment. Trickle-down economics is strained when the largest corporations are asking for handouts. And social assistance programs can’t be funded when the deficit surges.
So, here, I’m starting a list called “One Hundred Ways.” And I want your help.
It will be a running list of simple ideas, average people can do on any given day, to make this world the kind of place we won’t fear handing down to our children.
The rules? It’s easy.
Step 1: Have an idea – or share one you’ve heard – mean it wholeheartedly, and leave it in a comment on this page. You can even just email me if you want to contribute anonymously. I’ll add it to the list. If we pass 100, awesome!
Step 2: When you’re here, pick one and follow through.
See? Easy. That’s it.
Be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the little things.
I’ll start.
one hundred ways
1. Donate street vendor-bought clothing. Here, in D.C., we have street vendors everywhere, selling things like “Washington, D.C.” t-shirts and “CIA” hats. Usually there are deals, like buy 2 for $10 and get 1 free. So if you visit, or you just pass one on the way to work, buy some, then drop them off at the community organization of your choice, or even just hand them to someone who needs a shirt, or a sweatshirt, or a winter hat…
2. DC Hypothermia Hotline. Put this number in your phone: 800.535.7252. If you’re walking the streets of DC this winter, and you see a homeless person fighting the elements, give that number a call. A team of really good people will go to the location you provide and urge people to come inside where it’s warm.
Idea – Restaurant Refugee.
3. Capital Area Food Bank of DC. They’d love your help in a number of ways. A few really good ones? Organize a food drive at work, at your organization, a/o with friends. If you’re more of the do-by-yourself type, just donate what you can afford from your pantry. Here’s what they want most:
Non-perishable Food Items:
Canned Proteins (tuna, salmon, chicken, peanut butter)
Canned Fruits in Own Juices or Light Syrup (pineapples, peaches, and pears)
100% Fruit Juices (All sizes including juice boxes)
Grains (pasta, whole wheat pasta, rice, brown rice, macaroni and cheese)
Condiments (tomato based sauces, light soy sauce, ketchup, mustard, light salad dressings)
Low Sodium/ No Salt Added Canned Vegetables (mixed, green beans, corn)
Soups (beef stew, chili, chicken noodle, turkey rice)
Multigrain Cereal (cheerios, cornflakes, grapenuts, raisin bran)
Idea - lacochran.
4. Be a grandchild. Visit a nursing home. You can do anything from reading to playing cards, from eating snacks to singing songs… Maybe someone just needs to hold a thoughtful hand, to feel the comfort of another human being. A lot of us relish our down time, our alone time. But for many of us, it’s not a choice. So the next time your choice is coming home to another DVR’d hour of TV or finally watching that Netflix disc that’s been sitting there for weeks, try being a grandchild.
Idea – KG.
5. Servathon. Come clean up a public school with me. ”Servathon brings together thousands of individuals for two amazing days of volunteer service to complete projects at nonprofit organizations and public schools in our communities around the Greater Washington region. You, your family, friends and colleagues can help by volunteering your services, skills, time and energy...” For more information, go here.
Idea – Miss Bianca.
6. Create your own charity. Don’t believe the hype: it’s not impossible. Organise events to facilitate people to donate money to charity. In 2008, Sarah and 7 friends raised $50,000 for children’s charities by organising fun things such as fancy dress touch rugby, quizes, parties, etc. She personally organised speed dating that is so much fun…and takes no time to do at all. Get 40 people and get them to pay $1 a date…they have 3 min to talk to each person and have a good time… it's a quick $800 to give to charity.
Idea – Sarah.
7. Start a social group. Like D&D, book club, shopaholic’s anonymous etc, etc. There are so many people out there developing mental disorders because of lack of interaction with people.
Idea – Jen.
8. Be kind. Because it really is that simple, sometimes. Stop thinking everyone’s out to get you. Don’t be the “getter.” And helping others out doesn’t give anyone license to be arrogant or self-righteous. That defeats the entire purpose of helping.
Idea – Jen.
9. Play FreeRice.com. Answer quick questions in vocabulary, math, science, geography, art history, other languages and more. For each right answer, they donate ten grains of rice through the World Food Programme. It's that easy.
Idea - From California, with love.
10. Paperless billing. Most banks and other companies have the option of electronic billing. No more bills in the mailbox, and less wasted paper (think about how much that stacks up!).
Idea - From California, with love.
11. Buy the Street Sense newspaper. Many of DC's homeless run a bi-weekly paper and sell it across the city for $1 a copy. Talk to the vendor selling it. It supports the homeless in DC through something more than panhandling.
Idea - Erin.
12. Send Thank You cards. Take a little time at the end of each day to write thank you cards to people that were helpful to you or others. They don't have to be fancy, just a little note that says "hey, I appreciate you." You can even carry some with you so you can write them on the spot for people that you do not see on a regular basis.
Idea - Grace.
13. Eat out more. Food & Friends, a DC-based organization, hosts metro area-wide events in which scores of local restaurants donate portions of their sales to F&F's community initiatives, like food drives and home-delivered meals. All you have to do is eat. Not in DC? Check out the Association of Nutrition Services Agencies to find out which organizations near you may host similar events.
14. Give someone a drink. Even though it's cold now, don't forget the homeless during the hot, humid summer months. The next time you go out for your lunch hour, buy an extra bottle of water for someone who can't find cold, fresh water quite so easily. Lots of people die from dehydration and heat stroke in DC summers, and the easiest thing we can do is spend an extra $2 to make sure someone stays cool and hydrated.
Idea - Rachel.
15. Think before you eat. Make more informed choices. Don’t buy farmed salmon. Blue fin tuna is also on the decline so you may want to cut back.
Idea - Pauline.
16. Support your local farmers. Farmers' markets are popping up in more and more neighborhoods around the country. See if there's one near you.
Idea - Pauline.
17. Think before you purchase. If you can afford to make a choice, choose wisely. Greener choices mean greener living. For example, choose Energy Star appliances.
Idea - Pauline.
18. ...
brad