This post is brought to you by The California Milk Processor Board, Real California Milk, and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

The best things in life sometimes come about unexpectantly or are brought about from doing things for others. The last few months have put things into perspective and brought to the surface the things that matter and the things that don’t—one of them is doing things for others and supporting your fellow community members. So often, people become intimidated to do something for strangers. Whether it be lending a helping hand or helping a neighbor, things shouldn’t come with any resistance or intimidation! In all honesty, doing kind things for other people is just as rewarding for you as it is for the other person. In today’s post, we’ll be sharing six simple ways you can engage with your neighbors and create acts of kindness in your community! Be sure to read till the very end to find out how to participate in our $100 giveaway with Got Milk!

Lend a Helping Hand

Now more than ever, people could use a helping hand! Lending assistance to someone who may need it can mean all the difference to the person receiving the help. It could be aiding an elderly neighbor with some yard work or offering to pick up groceries for someone who may not be able to make it to the store (or needs something.) If you’re looking to do a bit more, you can always seek out neighborhood organizations that aid your community members.

bake just because

I love to bake, although my husband will say different. While we don’t have a constant flow of fresh baked goods in our home, I do enjoy the act of baking and cooking for others. Typically, I find myself waiting until the holiday season to do my neighborly baking, but why? Sometimes a little sweet is just what someone needs to brighten their day, especially if it’s unexpected. I know many of my neighbors are adjusting to new ways of life, whether it be virtual learning or working from home. These adjustments aren’t always easy, so why not send something their way?

What goes better with chocolate chip cookies? Milk, of course! Which makes them the perfect partners for this #FoodForThought initiative! The California Milk Processor Board (the creators of got milk?) and the California Milk Advisory Board, representing California dairy farm families, are partnering with Feeding America to help provide 1 million meals and 1 million servings of milk to feeding programs throughout California. That’s a TON of meals and could be used by families in need right now!

The campaign began on Aug. 25 when Feeding America was presented with a $300,000 donation from California dairy farmers to fund over 1 million servings of milk in California communities.

Give the gift of time.

Time is something many of us could use a little more of, but when you do find yourself with a bit more time on your hands, consider donating it. Whether it's picking up donations from a local non-profit or helping clean a neighborhood park, donating your time is a gift that can be extremely effective.

SUPPORT BUSINESSES WHO GIVE BACK

One of the simplest gestures of community support is shopping with businesses that give back to local charities or organizations. There are bound to be plenty of companies within your city that participate in charitable causes. Typically, you can find these linked on their company website!

Don't forget your furry friends.

As supporters of the "adopt, don't shop," mentality, we are huge supporters of adopting at local animal shelters. There are always plenty of rescue agencies in need of supplies, volunteers, and even foster homes. These facilitate often get overlooked, but they often request donations year-round. The contributions don't always have to be in the form of money either. Food, supplies, toys, and blankets are often much needed as well!

There isn’t anything like the feeling of doing something for someone else. It could be something as small as helping a neighbor move a piece of furniture or baking a meal for a family who could use it. Doing these small acts of kindness goes beyond the recipient and can spark a movement in your community. So remember, it doesn’t need to be the season of giving to give back!

Be sure to continue the #FoodforThought movement and join us on Instagram (here). When you share or engage with a message of positivity or act of kindness post on Instagram, tagging @gotmilk, and using the hashtag #FoodForThought through Sept. 30, it will generate a donation towards the goal of 1 million meals!

Cheers,

Kelly