50 Dates to Do Good in 2024

Hello 2024! Sharing gratitude and giving back have never meant more or felt better. To share some inspiration, we’ve rounded up a prime list of ways to perpetuate Good and celebrate community heroes every month of the year. Pick three events (or more) to join this year from the list below and mark your calendar to make it happen! Make memories, too, when you ask family and friends to join you.

January

• National Mentoring Month (all January) Become a mentor to help ensure positive outcomes for our young people.
• International Mentoring Day (Jan 17) A day for volunteer mentors to celebrate their role and reflect on the ways mentees have enhanced their world.
• MLK Day of Service (Jan 15) A day to share in the inspirational words of Dr. MLK, Jr. and elevate the spirit of service through volunteerism.

February

• National Thank a Mail Carrier Day (Feb 4) This one day, thank the mail person who is responsible for getting mail into your mailbox six days a week, every week! Write a personal note and/or bake a special treat to show your appreciation.
• National Shut-In Visitation Day (Feb 11) Visit a person who is shut-in due to disability or illness and brighten their day.
• Random Acts of Kindness Week (Feb 13-19) Spark a smile in others by incorporating intentional kindness into your actions this week - write positive sticky notes, participate in your community's mutual aid group, pay for a coworker’s coffee - the options are endless.
• No One Eats Alone Day (Feb 16 / third Friday in Feb) Started by students for students, middle schools across the nation look beyond differences and find ways to initiate conversations at lunchtime – with everyone. Can't connect in person due to social distancing needs? Make it a virtual lunch date!
• National Caregivers Day (Feb 16 / third Friday in Feb) Take time to thank a caregiver for their dedication and care of our loved ones.

March

• National Read Across America Day / Dr Seuss Day (Mar 2) Celebrate reading with a child or classroom you care about.
• National Employee Appreciation Day (Mar 1 / first Friday in March) Businesses and organizations plan celebrations across the country recognizing the achievements and contributions of their employees.
• Good Samaritan Day (Mar 13) Make an effort to help someone (traditionally a stranger) who is struggling or having a problem.
• Red Nose Day (Mar 15) A campaign with the mission to end child poverty by funding programs that keep children safe, healthy, and educated. Look for red clown noses to purchase for charity in your local stores.

April

• Good Deeds Day (Apr 14) A global day that unites people from 108 countries to do good deeds with their classmates, co-workers, or neighbors for the benefit of others and the planet.
  
• National Volunteer Week (April 21-27) Take time this week to recognize and thank the volunteers making a difference in your community.
• National Library Week (April 7-13) Strong libraries build strong communities. Head to your public school or academic library this week and join in the celebration (be sure to call ahead to see if an appointment is required due to social distancing needs!), support their mission through volunteering your time or making a donation, and recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers.
• Public School Volunteer Week (April 15-19) Work with your school-parent group to show gratitude and highlight the powerful contributions parents, community members and caregivers provide at school and home to support student success.
• Earth Day (April 22) Celebrate the wonders of our planet, get into nature, and commit to earth-sustaining actions such as cleaning up public spaces, recycling, planting a garden, and reducing your carbon footprint.
• Pay It Forward Day (April 28) Join the global initiative to make a difference by creating a huge ripple of kindness felt across the world.

May

• National Lemonade Day (May 5) Support budding entrepreneurship, help your neighborhood kids run a stand, and enjoy a refreshing glass of lemonade.
• Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-10) Take time to honor the teachers who lend their passion and skills to educating our children. Send notes of appreciation, plan a potluck brunch or luncheon (make it virtual if social distancing is needed) with your school-parent group, collect coupons or prizes for a teacher raffle.
• Do Something Good for your Neighbor Day (May 16) Our neighbors are precious, display (extra) acts of kindness to your neighbors on this day.

June

• World Environment Day (June 5) Celebrated in over 100 countries, World Environment Day is the United Nations day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. Plant a tree, make a commitment to recycle, volunteer for the National Park Service or at your local Farmer’s market.
• World Blood Donor Day (June 14) The World Health Organization (WHO) established this holiday to raise awareness about the need for blood donations all over the world and to thank blood donors for their life-saving contributions. Give blood or, if you’re unable to give, spread the word!
• Juneteenth (June 19) Commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, Juneteenth has grown into community festivals celebrating the art, food, education and history of the African-American culture.
• Summersgiving (June 22) Gather your friends and family in a celebration of life, rooted in gratitude as you plan a full Thanksgiving potluck in the summertime!

July

• National Parks and Recreation Month (All July) Get out in nature and enjoy our public spaces. Share your fun on social media, pick up trash, volunteer in support of parks programs, or make donations to advance beautification and youth recreation activities.
• Independence Day (July 4) Support your local celebrations by joining in the Fourth of July parade, volunteering to barbecue at the community picnic, or judging the pie-eating contest.
• National Intern Day (July 25) Reward your hard-working summer interns with a sweet treat, inspirational message and positive visibility in your organization.

August

• Minority Donor Awareness Day (Aug 1) Highlighting the need, especially among minorities, for more organ, eye, and tissue donors, this day focuses on learning more about organ donation and honoring minorities who have donated. Come together to save lives by hosting a cheek swab donor drive with your friends and coworkers.
• National Night Out (Aug 6 / first Tuesday in Aug) Promoting police-community partnerships in neighborhoods across the country, join a formal event or gather your neighbors to discuss Neighborhood Watch, Town Watch, and drug prevention activities.
• International Youth Day (Aug 12) This United Nations-sanctioned day recognizes the efforts of the world's youth in enhancing global society and engaging them in becoming more actively involved in making positive contributions to their communities. Gather your youth group or classmates and plan a service day!
• International Homeless Animals Day (Aug 17 / third Saturday in Aug) On this day, shelters, rescue groups, animal welfare organizations, and animal lovers the world over come together to raise awareness about the pet overpopulation epidemic. Volunteer at a shelter, host a pet food/toy roundup or make a donation to support our furry friends.
• World Humanitarian Day (Aug 19) The UN marks this day to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world. Write a letter to your Members of Congress calling attention to a humanitarian crisis you care about and donate to an international cause helping ease suffering around the globe.
• Be an Angel Day (Aug 22) Be someone’s angel here on earth. Offer an ear to listen, a hand to lift them up, or a shoulder to hold them up until they can stand again.
• National Grief Awareness Day (Aug 30) Take stock of those in your life who have been affected by a form of loss and offer to listen, ask them to join you for coffee, or send a note letting them know you are thinking about them. If you are suffering from grief, you’re not alone, and it’s okay to ask for help if you feel your grief is overwhelming.

September

• International Day of Charity (Sept 5) Commemorating the anniversary of Mother Teresa’s death, donate money or give your time to make a difference for a cause you care about.
• Patriot Day/National Day of Service and Remembrance (Sept 11) On this day Americans across the country are called to volunteer in their local communities in tribute to the individuals lost and injured in the attacks on September 11, 2001, first responders, and the many who have risen in service to defend freedom. Plan a service day, join a volunteer event in your community, or gather friends and family members to improve the life of a neighbor or community member in need.
• National Voter Registration Day (Sept 17) Get out the vote! Gather your friends, knock on doors, take to social media or host a party and help others register to vote for upcoming local and national elections.

October

• National Tutor Appreciation Week (first week in Oct) Give thanks to those helping you grow academically with these ideas for showing your sincere appreciation to terrific tutors.
• Walk & Bike to School Day (Oct 2) Get some exercise and do something good for the environment! Round up neighborhood kids to decorate their bikes or assemble in a group and supervise a safe route to school.
• National Coaches Day (Oct 6) Celebrate a coach who inspired you – ask team members to pitch in for a group gift (Use SignUp for money collection) or organize a virtual party to let your coach know how much you appreciate all they do.
• World Food Day (Oct 16) The UN recognizes this day of observance to draw attention to the plight of the hungry. Give to a local food bank, support small scale farms, and raise money to end hunger in your community and abroad.

November

• National Family Caregivers Month (all Nov) Recognize the tireless family members and professionals who comfort the elderly and ill people in your life. Share small gifts of appreciation, send thank you notes, offer a helping hand or to cover a shift or two so the caregiver can get a well-deserved break.
• National Family Volunteer Day (Nov 23) The Saturday before Thanksgiving is a day of service dedicated to celebrating the power of families working together to make a difference in their communities. Gather together and try some of these family-friendly volunteering ideas .
• National Day of Mourning (Nov 28) The National Day of Mourning is a time to shift your attention away from Thanksgiving turkey as a reminder that the people native to the Americas have been the recipients of a great deal of unfair treatment. It's important to learn about the true history of Thanksgiving, the stories of the Native American people and to advocate for better treatment.
• Turkey Trot (Nov 28) Check your local events for this family-friendly charity fundraiser run on the morning of Thanksgiving.

December

• Giving Tuesday (Dec 3) The first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday promotes giving back locally as families are ramping up their holiday celebrations. Many local charities have matching gift incentives for monetary donations, consider volunteering with friends, or round up food and warm clothes for community members who are hungry and experiencing homelessness.
• International Volunteer Day (Dec 5) The UN designates this day as a unique chance for volunteers and organizations around the world to celebrate their efforts, share their values, and promote their good work among their communities. Organize a volunteer appreciation day and let the media know about the impact volunteers make in your organization.
• Wreaths Across America Day (Dec 14) Honor fallen veterans by sponsoring a wreath at a local cemetery or memorial wall, donating to veterans causes, and remembering fallen veterans in your life on social media.
• National Cookie Exchange Day (Dec 22) Spread holiday cheer by gathering your friends and family and hosting a cookie exchange party or a bake sale for charity.
• National Thank You Note Day (Dec 26) The perfect opportunity to grab a pen and write a personalized note to express your gratitude – not only to thank people for holiday gifts, but also for good deeds and bountiful actions throughout the year.