Celebrating a year of kindness

Year of Kindness

Humankindness is about going above and beyond for others and a willingness to help those who may not be able to help themselves. With that in mind, we are celebrating 2022 as “The Year of Kindness”. We have created weekly challenges in this calendar to remind us all to take a moment to practice humankindness and embrace the connection that we have with others. 

We hope that you will participate in the challenges. In addition to the happiness that performing simple acts of kindness can bring us, we will have random drawings along the way with lots of fun prizes! You don’t have to complete all of the challenges (although that would be great). It’s about making the effort to be a kinder person. There are opportunities all around us. Some are very simple, others require that we give a little more of ourselves. How many of our challenges will you meet this year?

Acts of Humankindness - Weekly Challenges

  1. Give an unexpected compliment to someone.
  2. Buy a warm meal for someone in need.
  3. Stop to assist someone who looks lost.
  4. Pass along a compliment to a service worker’s boss.
  5. Learn CPR.
  6. Give an extra tip and write an encouraging note along with it.
  7. Participate in a charity walk or run.
  8. Buy products from a local vendor.
  9. Donate gently used clothes to a charity.
  10. Donate old blankets and towels to an animal shelter.
  11. Bring in a favorite treat and leave it in the break room. (It’s extra fun if you do it anonymously.)
  12. Contribute used books to the library or school media center.
  13. Encourage someone who is struggling.
  14. Play with the animals at your local shelter. It’s fun for you and them!
  15. Compliment a colleague to their boss.
  16. Spend time with someone in your life doing something that they love.
  17. Make friends with someone new to CHI Memorial.
  18. Call a family member or friend that you haven’t spoken with in a while just to say "hello."
  19. Send a message to a friend or coworker, letting them know you appreciate them.
  20. Do chores for a family member who could use some extra free time.
  21. Donate blood.
  22. Write a kind message on your mirror with a dry erase marker for yourself, significant other or family member.
  23. Send a care package to a service member.
  24. Surprise a neighbor or friend with freshly baked cookies or treats!
  25. Purchase a bag or cans of pet food and donate to our Furry Friends Food Drive for local shelters.
  26. Let someone go in front of you in line who only has a few items.
  27. Smile at five strangers.
  28. Set an alarm on your phone to go off at three different times during the day. In those moments, do something kind for someone else.
  29. Send a gratitude email to a coworker who deserves more recognition.
  30. Practice self-kindness and spend 30 minutes doing something you love today.
  31. Write a gratitude list in the morning and again in the evening.
  32. Return the shopping cart for someone at the grocery store.
  33. Offer a bottle of water to someone working outside on a hot day.
  34. When you hear that discouraging voice in your head, tell yourself something positive — you deserve kindness too!
  35. Compliment the first three people you talk to today.
  36. Don’t complain about anything for one entire day.
  37. Run an errand for someone in need or who is overwhelmed.
  38. Participate in the CHI Memorial “Swab Day” event. You could be someone’s life-saving match!
  39. Do someone a favor.
  40. Put your phone away when in the company of friends and family for one full day.
  41. Ask an elderly person a question about their life and really listen. You may be surprised at what they have to say.
  42. Learn the names of five people that you see often, but don’t necessarily interact with (i.e. security guard, EVS worker, nurse, etc.).
  43. Help a neighbor —bring in their trash bins, mow their lawn, rake their leaves, etc.
  44. Send a text or email to someone to whom you’ve been meaning to reach out.
  45. Help someone who’s struggling to carry their things to their car.
  46. Thank a veteran for their service.
  47. Send a handwritten letter to someone you love.
  48. Invite a coworker or neighbor who is alone over the holidays to your home to celebrate.
  49. Surround yourself with only positive things for one entire day. (Positive people, music, media, etc.)
  50. Hold the elevator for someone, even if you are in a hurry.
  51. Instead of telling someone how to get to where they are going, take the time to walk them there. 
  52. Donate time to a worthy cause.
  53. Leave a small treat for a coworker anonymously. (Cookie, candy bar, coffee, etc.)