“We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are”
- Max De Pree
Random Acts of Kindness Week is an effort to spread kindness, love, and compassion not only to those we care for, but to everyone around us and in our community. Join the Student Civic Leadership Board to help bring kindness to SUNY Buffalo State by performing simple kind, caring, and compassionate acts throughout the week.
Not sure where to start? See our list of 101 Random Acts of Kindness below.
1. Address someone the way they prefer to be addressed.
2. Put sticky notes with positive slogans on the mirrors in the restroom.
3. Stop and talk to a homeless person.
4. Discourage gossip.
5. Say “Thank You” to the janitor.
6. Have lunch with someone from an identity group different from yours.
7. Tell your siblings how much you appreciate them.
8. Plant a tree.
9. Donate supplies to a local shelter (animal, women’s, etc.).
10. Wash someone’s car.
11. Help someone struggling with bags.
12. Each time you get a new piece of clothing, donate an old one.
13. Smile at someone on the street just because.
14. Become a big brother or big sister.
15. Help a mother with a baby stroller.
16. Talk to the shy person who is sitting by themself.
17. Give away old unwanted items.
18. Write a list of things you love/like about a friend or partner.
19. Call your grandparents.
20. Compliment a stranger.
21. Call people by their preferred name.
22. Hold the door open for someone.
23. Attend a virtual community event.
24. Offer your seat.
25. Make and donate fun pillow cases for children with cancer.
26. Randomly tell your parents you love them.
27. Say "thank you" to your professors.
28. Make time to learn about a social issue.
29. Create inspiring bookmarks.
30. Donate used books to a local library.
31. Donate blood.
32. Ask someone if they need help.
33. Mentor a youth.
34. Make a care package for the homeless filled with soap, food, clothing etc.
35. Pick up trash.
36. Make someone laugh.
37. Participate in Black History Month programming.
38. Read to the elderly or children.
39. Tell an employee’s manager how well their services were.
40. Call an old friend.
41. Clean up the house.
42. Send a thank you note to your favorite politician.
43. Ask someone how their day is going.
44. Be polite on the road.
45. Collect coats for a coat drive.
46. Renew an old friendship.
47. Recycle.
48. Ride your bike to school.
49. Pay for a snack for someone.
50. Learn a new hobby with someone.
51. Help keep your school clean.
52. Help a child learn.
53. Learn about the Black Lives Matter movement.
54. Donate your hair for children who have cancer.
55. Bring in your neighbor’s trash cans.
56. Help someone whose car broke down.
57. Keep your classroom clean.
58. Clean graffiti.
59. Call someone who is sick.
60. Complain less.
61. Return lost belongings to owner.
62. Say "thank you" to health care workers.
63. Give your seat to a pregnant or elderly person.
64. Donate old textbooks.
65. Participate in the MENstrual Product Challenge.
66. Volunteer at a food pantry.
67. Cook a meal for someone.
68. Be kind to someone you dislike.
69. Buy coffee for a stranger.
70. Use reusable shopping bags.
71. Donate food.
72. Spare change for someone in need.
73. Start a food drive.
74. Use reusable water bottles.
75. Bake a cake for someone.
76. Sponsor a child from another country.
77. Clean up your neighborhood park.
78. Study with a classmate.
79. Take shorter showers.
80. Send a soldier a care package.
81. Make a bird feeder.
82. Use less plastic.
83. Encourage parents with special needs children.
84. Buy someone a coffee.
85. Shovel for your neighbor.
86. Send thank you notes if you witness acts of inclusion.
87. Buy a meal for a homeless person.
88. Bring your parents breakfast in bed.
89. Thank people not traditionally labeled as leaders for their leadership.
90. Cook dinner for your family.
91. Order food for your family.
92. Support a minority-owned business.
93. Host a sports party for your friends.
94. Forgive someone.
95. Get groceries for someone who is sick.
96. Set up a board game to play with your family.
97. Pick up garbage in a school yard.
98. Start a penny drive for a local charity.
99. Give someone a book you think they would like.
100. Don’t expect anything in return for kindness.
101. Create your own week of kindness.
