National Philanthropy Day is just under two weeks away. Make a plan to roll up your sleeves and get out into your community on 10/20.  Share your good work on social media using #phimuserves so all can see your impact.

JUST DO IT on 10/20 (no significant pre-planning or research needed)

• Go through your house and collect items in good condition. Take them to a local organization in need.
• Go through your cabinets and collect non-perishables. Drop them off at a local food bank.
• Cook dinner for an elderly or ill neighbor.
• Babysit for free for a family or friend.
• Walk through your neighborhood or stop by a local park or playground and pick up any litter.
• Gather up your gently used books and videos. Take them to your local hospital for inpatients. Take children’s books and videos your local CMNH hospital.
• Make a monetary donation to CMNH or a local cause.
• Give blood. Find a blood drive near you at (http://www.redcrossblood.org/our-regions).
• Mow or rake a neighbor’s lawn.

INVOLVE OTHERS on 10/20 (some pre-planning & research needed)

• Hold a canned food drive or donate food to a local food bank. Take paper bags for your neighbors to fill and then collect and deliver on 10/20.
• Gather friends or family members to clean up a local park, playground or stream.
• Raise money for CMNH or another cause by holding a lemonade/cider/hot chocolate/baked goods sale on Monday 10/20.
• Hold a car wash as a fundraiser.
• Reach out to local shelters and collect needed items (toys, toiletries, household goods) from friends and neighbors.
• Collect goods for packages for men and women in the United States Military currently serving overseas (for guidelines and ideas visit http://www.military.com/spouse/military-life/military-resources/how-to-support-our-troops.html)
• Collect needed items for an animal shelter.

SHARE YOUR TALENTS on 10/20 (significant pre-planning & research needed)

Find an organization that could use your talents on 10/20.

• Talented conversationalist? Go spend time at a senior citizen center, hospice or nursing home playing games and sharing your company.
• Skilled carpentress, repairwoman, landscaper? Find a church, shelter, school or organization to use your talent for free fix ups or repair. (or do it for a neighbor in need!)
• Know your way around a computer? Support an organization or neighbor with your technical skills
• Willing to serve? Volunteer at a food bank, serve meals at a shelter, help at an animal shelter
• Literary type? Read to children at school, daycare and/or aftercare.
• Event planner? Host a service party for friends, families or children. Prepare sandwiches for a shelter, make cards and care packages for service members, make blankets for an organization in need, decorate delivery bags or make embellisments for Meals on Wheels recipients (http://www.mowaa.org/findameal for locations).