suggestions to perform the act of kindness

December 15, 2020 1:35 PM

I recently came across this article in ap news about this wonderful lady who celebrated her birthday by doing something good for strangers. I'm not into any social media except askmetafilter though :)) I always wanted to do something like what she did.I cannot go out volunteer that much in person( not only because of pandemic but also being a parent of a special need child).I would love to do something like sending gift/cards/letters whatever I can from home to make someone happy and smile.My struggle is finding the right people in need and their addresses. How do I find these people?Any suggestions and ideas to start my journey in doing something good will be greatly appreciated.Thanks.

posted by SunPower to Society & Culture (11 answers total)

Post Pals are UK-based but I’m sure would welcome international participants if you’re not in the UK. You send mail and/or small gifts to seriously ill children and their siblings.

(I don’t know if that would seem like too much of a busman’s holiday to you if you’re already caring for a kiddo with additional needs, or if it would seem particularly appropriate - apologies if it’s the former!)
posted by penguin pie at 1:55 PM on December 15, 2020

Contact Sparky Buttons about the metafilter card club!
posted by aniola at 2:04 PM on December 15, 2020 [1 favorite]

A friend writes letters to shut-ins (is that the term we use these days?) who are part of her church congregation but who can no longer make it. When my Girl Scouts needed a volunteer project, she gave us some of their names and addresses. We didn't have to say much, just a card with a note so they know people are still out there. You could get in touch with churches in your neighborhood and see if they have similar needs.

Residents of nursing homes are often appreciative of cards, as well; for those, I'd contact nursing homes in my area.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:27 PM on December 15, 2020

Or go global and write letters for Amnesty International.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:29 PM on December 15, 2020 [2 favorites]

Postcrossing! Once someone I sent a postcard to messaged me to say it had arrived the day after her cat died, and it really gave her a moment of happiness when she needed one. Lots of stories like that from Postcrossers.
posted by diffuse at 2:36 PM on December 15, 2020

If you are in the U.S., the US Postal Service has Operation Santa, where you can read a child's actual letter to "Santa" and send them a gift.
posted by misskaz at 3:05 PM on December 15, 2020

+1 Black and Pink
There's also TranSanta, launched by Indya Moore.
posted by typify at 8:13 PM on December 15, 2020 [2 favorites]

You might check with your county/city government to see if they have a program of calling or writing various isolated/lonely people. Washington County in Oregon does. I have no idea if this is a state-wide movement.
posted by Cranberry at 12:29 AM on December 16, 2020

+1 Black and Pink. I have two trans pen pals who are incarcerated, and both have said that having a connection to the outside world helps them feel connected to, and remember, their own humanity.
posted by wicked_sassy at 6:37 AM on December 16, 2020

Response by poster: Thanks for the wonderful suggestions.Will be checking each one of them and going to start something soon.I live in US.Please keep the suggestions coming.It may help others like me to do start something good to do.
posted by SunPower at 7:11 AM on December 16, 2020

Response by poster: Aniola, can you please give me more info or link about metafilter card club?
posted by SunPower at 7:14 AM on December 16, 2020