COVID-19 has changed many things, but we can still encourage, serve, and appreciate those around us. Below are some physically distanced volunteer ideas from loveourcities.org.

Provide Encouragement

• Write thank you cards for public servants (EMT, Police, Fire)
• Deliver pre-packaged sweets to public servants
• Write thank you cards for hospital staff (Nurses, Drs.)
• Write cards of encouragement to parents of NICU babies
• Decorate placemats for Meals on Wheels recipients
• Write cards of encouragement to residents at senior homes
• Donate games and crossword puzzle books to senior homes
• Bathe service dogs
• Write words of positivity on the sidewalk throughout town, creating chalk art
• Make cards for veterans
• Write cards of encouragement for cancer patients

Appreciate School Staff

• Write appreciation cards for teachers and school administration
• Drop off flower pens for staff with tag ‘Thank You For Helping Me Bloom’
• Hang positivity banners on campus

Neighborhood Clean-Up

• Beautify Fresno: spot an area that needs love, provide your own supplies, and go love on that area
• Beautify major streets: pick up trash, pull weeds, trim overgrown bushes
• Sign Solutions: remove signs from street lamp poles and telephone poles
• River/Creek cleanup: pick up trash
• Park cleanup: pull weeds, rake leaves, lay bark, plant flowers or trees
• Paint over graffiti
• Clean alley

Help People in Need

• Bag groceries at the food bank
• Donate blood or host a blood drive at the local blood bank
• Host a food drive: distribute a flyer throughout the neighborhood a week prior, collect items on the stated pickup day and then sort into bags of complete grocery needs
• Create heating pads for cancer patients by sewing rice in fabric
• Sew and stuff teddy bears for foster children
• Host a drive thru drop off of dog and cat food
• Host a drive thru drop off of hygiene kits
• Host a drive thru drop off of pajamas for children
• Host a drive thru drop off of jackets for children
• Host a drive thru drop off of holiday food
• Host a drive thru drop off of used books
• Pick up food from the food bank and deliver to the homes of emancipated youth

These are just a few of the many ways you can help and encourage others this season!