Spreading joy this holiday season! This Acts of Kindness Calendar is filled with activities to brighten someone’s day, including your own.
December 1: Call a friend or family member you haven’t connected with in a while.
December 2: Donate new or excellent, gently used winter clothes to USD 383 FIT Closet. usd383.org/41115_3
December 3: Leave a note of encouragement in a library book for the next reader.
December 4: Donate fresh, uncut produce, non-perishable/shelf-stable food, and/or baked goods to Cats’ Cupboard: k-state.edu/cats-cupboard
December 5: Donate blood at the American Red Cross blood drive in the K-State Union. Find more upcoming blood drives here: redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive
December 6: Leave an extra generous tip for your server.
December 7: Be kind to yourself. Give yourself permission to rest without guilt.
December 8: Run the 5k benefitting Flint Hills Girls on the Run: gotrflinthills.org/5k-manhattan
December 9: Write a positive review for your favorite local business.
December 10: Volunteer at the Flint Hills Breadbasket to assist with food distribution. flinthillsbreadbasket.org
December 11: Donate toys to children in need through Toys for Manhattan. toysformanhattan.com/donating
December 12: Offer to babysit or run an errand for a busy parent.
December 13: Send a handwritten note to someone who’s made an impact on your life.
December 14: Support a local artist by buying their work at Manhattan Art Center’s Holiday Art Market.
December 15: Practice self-compassion. Be as gentle with yourself as you would be with a friend.
December 16: Visit a friend or relative in a retirement home.
December 17: Participate in a holiday card-making event for hospitalized children.
December 18: Donate to the Manhattan Emergency Shelter from their Amazon Wishlist: mesikansas.org/in-kind-donations.html
December 19: Drop off cookies or treats at your local fire station or 911 dispatchers.
December 20: Catch up with a loved one while wrapping presents.
December 21: Help an elderly neighbor with leaf raking or snow shoveling.
December 22: Volunteer to prepare and/or serve hot meals to people in need any day of the week through Common Table: mhkcommontable.org
December 23: Remember to fill your own cup. Make time for activities that bring you joy, whether that’s reading, dancing, or playing with your dog.
December 24: Call or video chat with an elderly relative or friend who may feel lonely.
December 25: Share a holiday meal with someone who does not have family in town.
December 26: Find a new volunteer opportunity through Flint Hills Volunteer Center: flinthillsvolunteercenter.com
December 27: Go for a walk with a friend.
December 28: Donate gently used items to The Encore Shop.
December 29: Offer to help a friend take down Christmas decorations.
December 30: Buy a coffee for the person behind you in line.
December 31: Set a goal to carry kindness into the New Year!
We hope this calendar will serve as a source of inspiration for meaningful ways to give back during the often stressful holiday season. Prioritize the activities that nourish your spirit. These acts of kindness can uplift those who may be struggling and lead to unexpected moments of joy.