Making a Difference: the Good You Can Do

“What you do makes a difference. And you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

– Jane Goodall

A hard truth many of us, myself included, need to hear: making a difference is not reposting that TikTok, or reel to your Instagram story. It is not getting into heated debates online or in person. It is not violent protests. It is not simply not doing or saying anything as long as you don’t seem associated with a bad side of history.

A difference is bringing a smile on a child’s face in a Pediatric Oncology unit. Slowing down and talking to that senior citizen behind you in the grocery line. Giving homeless people the benefit of the doubt, $10 to you is a latte (ridiculous pricing by the way), but to them that can be dinner for a week. Difference is picking trash up off the street. Putting down our phones around our children and pets, those little people/or fur babies whose entire existence circulates around us. It can even be as simple as offering a simple sympathetic smile to the mother of a wailing baby, because the last thing she needs is criticism in a frown.

This is an excerpt from a lesson I taught to my kids during credits I was taking for my Educational Development class.

The truth is, us “big kids” and adults, all believe in that. We want to see the world become a better place, we want to be remembered as someone who was a ray of sunshine and brought good things to those around them. But it is never that simple. As we get older, we run into this thing called adulthood. I would best describe getting introduced to adulthood as getting hit by a moving train, tossed off the side of a tall bridge in between two tall cliffs, plummeting into the ocean, a magical weight appears strapped to your chest so you sink all the way to the bottom, and then just when you think you can’t get any lower (literally) a drill appears. Don’t worry, I did not tell your kids that part. You can tell them for me, I’d prefer to keep playing good cop with my Play-Doh supplies!

Getting involved in things is hard: we don’t know what organizations are best, time is conflicting, and why do some volunteer options cost money? There are so many untapped resources and ways you can give positivity into the world without all the scrambling that remains vastly unexplored or unknown. Here’s my little list (by the way, every single one of these activities is kid friendly! So have your classroom, kids, and siblings participate!):

1. Love For Out Elders

The National Library of Medicine tells us that heartbreakingly, 24% of Americans ages 65 and up are socially isolated. That is ¼ of this Nation’s elderly population. The main causes of this seem to be: death of a spouse, retirement transitions, cognitive challenges, and a generational gap of communication. An organization I adore is Love For Our Elders, a website where you can learn how to send cards to elders. Every month they have a panel of elders they sponsor on their website who you can write letters to. This is such a fun activity and honestly so easy, you just need card supplies and to know how to send mail! The website walks you through everything. This month I wrote to Jeanette, a 93 year old veteran teacher! She wrote back with advice for aspiring teachers and it made my year.

“The point of teaching is to create an environment where children feel like you’re their protector, educator, and best friend all in one.”– Jeanette

P.S. You can also nominate an elder you know to participate in this and receive some love!

P.S.S. I did this activity for the first time with my classroom after we watched UP on movie day, there was not a dry eye in the room.

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2. Lasagna Love

Who doesn’t love lasagna? Founded in 2020 during the Coronavirus-19 epidemic, Rhiannon Menn started cooking and delivering homemade meals from her home to struggling families in her community. From there it has grown into a delicious international non-profit. Also founder of the company Good to Mama, a company focused on mothers taking care of themselves amidst the chaos of motherhood, Menn’s heart is clearly with those in need. Stressing how she wants to make the process easy not just for those receiving a meal but for those volunteering, she’s made the process easy and simple. Watch the video below for more details!

Honestly, this is such a wonderful way to get in the kitchen and make something with love. And this would be such a fun activity to do with little ones as well (if they promise not to put their hands in their mouths while cooking😉).

3. Project Linus

Like Linus, we all like being wrapped up in a warm blanket at the end of the night, just maybe not as much as Linus… Project Linus is a beautiful organization dedicated to delivering handmade blankets to children in the U.S. who are seriously ill, in a hard situation, or just in need. You can make a blanket at home and drop it off at a local chapter or attend one of the many many workshops they host where you can learn how to make a blanket and donate it while connecting with great people. This kind of non-profit is so amazing and not often heard of, if you have the time you should definitely contribute!

4. Care for Cubs

A group our modern society has perhaps failed the most, our foster kids. Card for Cubs aims to sponsor foster kids and give them the joy, love, and support they most desperately need. One way Card for Cubs does that? You can write a letter to a foster kid! Heartwarmingly, this year's mailbox is already full so this is an activity to set for your 2027 check list. But definitely don’t miss out on bringing some love a kid’s way.

You never know the lasting impact that can leave. PALMS Behavior Health tells us that 15.3 percent of foster youth struggle with major depression, and 21.5 percent of foster youth suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. There is truly nothing more important we as a society can do for these children than show them love, and a card is a great way to do it!

"Thank you for the opportunity to bring some sunshine into the lives of the foster childrens and parents we serve."

Ennis Center for Children's Testimonial to Cards for Cubs

5. Cards for Hospitalized Kids

If you have not caught onto my card theme already, now you definitely have. There truly is no better way to bring some love to someone’s day other than a handmade card made with love. Devastatingly, approximately 1.6 million children, not counting newborns, are hospitalized in the U.S. annually. That is 1.6 million children who miss the sun on their faces, playing tag in the park, and getting to wake up at home with mommy and daddy.

CFHK is an organization dedicated to making these kiddo’s lives a little more magical. With an easy “how-to” posted on their website, you can make and decorate as many cards as you would like for these kids and send them off! They also have special holiday edition cards you can make with special instructions for families who celebrate holidays differently. According to their website, over 500,000 kids in hospitals have received cards from the organization, and you can increase that number! A bonus if you have some extra pocket money is their link to an amazon toys wish list that these kids in long-term hospital care have added their toy wishes on.

Easy Ways to Spread a Bit of Love

Kindness Rocks: Paint a rock and/or leave an inspiring message on one! Then leave it around your garden or neighborhood to brighten people's day.

Reach Out to Your Loved Ones: We all know someone who could use a little extra love or motivation, reach out! You never know how much a difference even a sweet message can make.

Donate: Donate your clothes, books, furniture! Don't let them go to waste or the dump. And don't donate to Goodwill. Find a local thrift shop nearby you. One man's trash is another man's treasure.

https://www.aol.com/10-reasons-reconsider-donating-goodwill-130000205.html

A Little Goes A Long Way

Wether you decide to just turn to an elderly person near you and lend a listening ear or write a card to foster kids, there are endless opportunities at your fingertips to explore helping others. At the end of the day, while all of these activities and ways to volunteer are fantastic, even a smile to a stranger really does help. Truly. And continuing to uphold a standard of good attitude and empathy for yourselves will reflect onto those around you. There are a million ways to make a change, it's up to you how you do it!