Give the Neighbor a Helping Hand

The project:
Loan a table to a neighbor who needed a little extra room to spread out today.

Time:
Moments to pass off the table - half an hour to catch up.

Why bother?
Being neighborly isn't so difficult, and wouldn't our neighborhoods all be better places if we could just lend a hand?

Worth it?
Yes!

Trash at Soccer

The project:
Pick up a trashed cup on the way to soccer and place it in the garbage bin nearby.

Time:
Moments - by Mr. B

Why bother?
It really isn't so difficult, and it helps the place look nicer.

Worth it?
Yes.

Donate Old Coats

The project:
Clean out the winter closet and donate last year's coats to the local shelter thrift store.

Time:
A few minutes to sort, a few minutes to deliver on our chores round.

Why bother?
Coats are expensive, and while our girls have managed to wear theirs for several years (I bought them large, plus they had expansion sleeves), we've kept them in great shape. They'll be ideal for other little girls.

There are shelters and schools and any number of organizations throughout the country that can help you find a home for your old (but still usable) coats. Check One Warm Coat for some leads (it doesn't have anything for my area, but maybe for yours), or any of these stories for more information.

Worth it?
Yes (though I confess it's sometimes really tough for me to give up the things the little girls used through such great memory-making times - silly me)

Photo courtesy Jason Stanbery under Creative Commons License.

Write Letter of Commendation for Great Service

The project:
Find out who's in charge and write a letter of thanks for an employee who provided exceptional customer service.

Time:
20 minutes to research, write and send.

Why bother?
Perhaps it was merely the contrast between today's service at Ragged Point Inn and recent service I've received from: a state park's docent; my local (and now former) mechanic; just far too many employees these days. Maybe the service was just standard, but I was impressed.

It was just a stop for lunch, at the outdoor snack bar. Our interactions were brief. There was a line. But the food service guy greeted us with a smile, didn't rush us, looked us in the eyes (not only me, but my kids, too), addressed the children when he wanted to know specifics of their orders. It was, truly, service with a smile.

Whether he's a fast-food clerk or a high-power professional, an employee like this deserves recommendation (and a tip)!

Worth it?
Absolutely. I like to imagine these letters being shared not only with the employee in question, but also with the higher ups who might have something to say about his pay (raises?), job position (promotion?) and additional potential kudos.

Trash, Sir, at Big Sur

The project:
Pick up trash around camp and on the trail during a midweek getaway to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.

Time:
Moments here and there.

Why bother?
It seems there's nowhere on this Earth where trash isn't being left behind, blown into nooks and crannies or tossed out in the open. It's easy enough to pick it up. We tend to leave our campsite better than we found it. We do the same for trails.

Worth it?
Yes.

Photo courtesy BurningMax under Creative Commons License.

Spend Time with the Elderly

The project:
Spend time at the senior residence visiting with Grandma.

Time:
90 minutes

Why bother?
The elderly have SO much to offer, not the least of which is valuable life experience. If we so choose, we can learn from their triumphs and errors, enjoy their stories, learn history from folks who LIVED it. Whether it's a family member you visit, or a perfect stranger, this is certainly time well spent. And so many elderly folks don't have visitors. If your own old folks aren't nearby, consider adopting a grandparent if you can make the time.

Worth it?
Absolutely. While her hearing is nearly shot and her stories tend to repeat themselves at time, the girls and I enjoy bringing a smile, even tears of laughter, to her.

Car Maintenance

The project:
Change the spark plugs on my husband's truck, and while you're at it, remove the denuded wiper arms, prep, prime and paint them black again.

Time:
30 minutes

Why bother?
The truck's been running a bit rough. First place to start, the spark plugs. By doing it in the driveway for him, we saved a bundle of money, he saved time (and miles of walking), and I felt pretty darn good about completing a useful project.

The arms just bugged me. They've bugged me for months. All the original paint had long been stripped by wind and sun, and we had the painting supplies here. So, wrench, twist, pull, paint and reverse. VOILA! Looks like new!

Worth it?
Yes - DH was happy to have his truck running better, and amused by the cosmetic effort. on his 17-year-old truck.

Photo courtesy nouQraz under Creative Commons License.