Amy Neumann - Simple Acts to Change the World: 500 Ways to Make a Difference

To my favorite world changer, my daughter Isabella Skye.

Today is the perfect day to make a difference and change the world! No matter your interests or experience, there is always a way for you to make a differenceand even the smallest acts go a long way toward creating an impact that matters. In Simple Acts to Change the World , youll find 500 easy ways you can make a difference in the world around you, including:

Sprucing up the teachers lounge at your local school

Sharing your professional skills on a nonprofit pro bono project

Making comfort kits for kids impacted by natural disasters

Planting flowers in a common space in your community

Creating a neighborhood watch

Becoming a teen peer counselor

Collecting items for a charity auction

And your impact doesnt end there! As you better the world around you through your acts, youll also discover that you are bettering yourself along the way. You will learn about others in your community, and make a difference for future generations. Not only that, but in your simple acts, youll also inspire others to do their own part in making the world a better place. When a neighbor sees you donating an instrument to a nearby school, he may be inspired to give free guitar lessons to local kids. When a friend spots you walking a dog from the community shelter, she may be moved to take in a foster animal. Every time you help increase awareness around important causes and issues, you create new opportunities for more people to learn and take action.

Whether you have just five minutes to spare or have the time for a longer commitment, with Simple Acts to Change the World , youll be ready to step out the door and make that difference.

Donate sports equipment to organized sports. Scour your garage for unused equipment your kids have outgrown or youve stopped using. Clubs, churches, or schools can use your equipment to help kids get some fun exercise and learn a new activity. Organized sports teach kids important lessons on responsibility and leadership and are a great way to build community by protecting common spaces for community use, as well as elevating self-esteem among peers.

Help your favorite charity make thank-you calls or write notes of thanks . Receiving thanks increases the feeling of doing good for the person who gave. This encourages them to donate again in the future and help further the cause.

Become a bluebird monitor (or a monitor of any species of bird competing with invasive species in your community). Set up a bluebird box and follow the nesting of bluebirds and their babies. This will provide valuable information about the local environment, which you can share with organizations like the Bluebird Societies to see more regional, national, or global trends. The information you collect also helps these organizations keep an eye on conservation efforts and understand the health of wildlife on a larger scale.

Offer to take photos at a charity event. Many nonprofits like to share the fun that their guests have at a walkathon, gala, or another event. Photos that are posted to the nonprofits social channels can be shared by the guests later to help more people learn about the nonprofit and encourage them to take part themselves.

Ask your company to work on a pro bono project . Pro bono, from the Latin phrase pro bono publico, or for the public good, is a focused, longer-term version of volunteering that usually involves professional skills. Pro bono projects can involve accounting, legal services, human resources, marketing, or other skills that can be applied to the needs of nonprofits. Organizations like Catchafire and Taproot list projects available at nonprofits that can use your expertise.

Catalog and sell interesting items for nonprofits using online auction sites like eBay and eBid . Sharing unique items with history can create a buzz for a nonprofit. Because of the large reach these websites have, selling items in this way might also raise more money for the cause than a local garage sale or auction would. And collectors will pay a premium for the uncommon things they collect.

Make trophies for kids. Ask a local nonprofit that works with children if they need any trophies created and donated for upcoming events. This unusual donation gives kids something to keep to inspire and encourage them. The trophies can be for things like completing programs, getting good grades, or doing well in friendly competitions.

Drive a foster pet on a leg of their trip to their new family. There are dogs and cats all over the world looking for homes, and sometimes the perfect pet is located a town, state, or province away. Owning a pet also has infinite positive effects on peoples lives, including reducing stress and loneliness, creating a loving bond, encouraging responsibility, and fostering exercise. As a transport volunteer, you help move pets, often from overcrowded shelters to shelters with more room, or to new homes to make a cuddly love connection.

Watch TED Talks for inspiration. TEDs motto is that there are ideas worth spreading. Watch the most popular talks of all time, or one of the over one hundred other themed playlists such as Talks by brilliant kids and teens or Talks to help you find your purpose, and share your favorite talks with friends, family, or any groups you are a part of. You can also create a group that watches and discusses different talks and how to apply them to your own lives, communities, or the world.

Repair equipment for a nonprofit organization. If you or other people you know have skills in anything related to HVAC, electrical, welding, or other technical trades , those skills are invaluable to organizations with critical equipment that is broken or in need of maintenance.

Help teachers create a debate class. Many organizations offer free debate tool kits for teachers to use, and these organizations will appreciate your help with ideas and planning. Debate is a valuable critical-thinking skill for kids (and adults). Debate cultivates the ability to see multiple viewpoints on a topic, increases public-speaking confidence, and introduces topics that might not normally be discussed elsewhere.