10 Ideas for Random Acts of Kindness Week

Did you know kindness is contagious?

Research from Stanford University shows the positive effects of kindness are felt in the brain, improving moods and making receivers more likely to “pay it forward” to others. Other studies found that witnessing acts of kindness produces oxytocin, which aids in lowering blood pressure and improving overall heart health. Kindness also stimulates the production of serotonin, the feel-good chemical that calms you down and makes you happy. Engaging in acts of kindness produces endorphins (the brain’s natural painkiller) and less cortisol (the stress hormone), and even lowers blood pressure.

But that’s not all. There are other scientifically proven benefits of simply being kind to others. These include:

• Feeling stronger, calmer, less depressed, more energetic, and overall happier
• Experiencing fewer aches and pains and generally living longer than those who do not volunteer or give back
• Reducing anxiety and significantly increasing positive mood and relationship satisfaction

This Random Acts of Kindness Week, help turn Frederick County kind by making kindness the norm. Consider one of these tips for giving back in your community from Feb. 16-23—and all year long!

1. Volunteer at Frederick Health.
   Every month, hundreds of caring individuals come to Frederick Health Hospital to volunteer. They assist arriving or departing patients from the hospital, greet and direct visitors, staff the Frederick Health Hospital Gift Shop or the Select Seconds Thrift Shop, deliver flowers and reading materials, and so much more. As they’re helping others, they’re helping themselves, too.
   
   Research shows that volunteering improves your health in many ways, both emotionally and even physically. Volunteering improves self-esteem, develops empathy for others, affirms personal values, and aids in your personal development. Plus, it helps you feel connected to your community—and it’s a great way to meet new people with similar interests. People of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to volunteer at Frederick Health Hospital. Learn more here or call us at 240-566-3567.

2. Donate unused or lightly used items to Select Seconds.
   If you want to help women, men, children, and infants in your community, consider donating to Select Seconds Thrift Shop. We accept collectibles, shoes, household items, small electrical items in good working order, antiques, jewelry, linens, clothing, small furniture items, toys and games, gift items, and more. If you have a friend or family member in need of items like these, stop by the Thrift Shop on E. Patrick Street and purchase items for them too. Select Seconds partners with Frederick Health, so every donation or purchase directly benefits the health system.

3. Give the gift of life—donate blood.
   Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Unlike life-saving medications, blood cannot be manufactured—it can only come from generous donors like you. At Frederick Health, blood donations are needed for surgeries, cancer treatments, traumatic injuries, chronic illnesses, and more. With just one blood donation, you can potentially save up to 3 lives. This simple act can have a significant impact on so many people. If you’d like to make a difference in the lives of people in need, find a blood drive near you. Visit redcrossblood.org and search by your zip code. Most blood drives occur weekly, and the American Red Cross provides convenient locations for people to give blood.

4. Raise money or donate funds to a healthy cause.
   For more than 30 years, the Frederick Health Development Council has continued a tradition of philanthropy across our organization. Through funds from community supporters, the Development Council has helped to bring renovations, new construction, service line enhancements, and new and replacement medical technologies to Frederick Health. If you’re looking for a way to make an immediate impact within your community this Random Acts of Kindness Week, consider donating to Frederick Health. It’s through the support of people like you that we can provide the best in diagnostic and life-saving equipment, services, technology, and facilities for the thousands of patients who turn to us for healthcare.
5. Help a neighbor in need.
   Did you know snow shoveling is responsible for thousands of injuries and as many as 100 deaths each year? Or older adults are often affected greatest by hypothermia and frostbite during the cold winter months? If you have an elderly neighbor, lend a helping hand during the next snowstorm. If you’re in healthy condition, offer to shovel their driveway or sidewalk and add salt to treat icy surfaces and reduce the chances of falls. Stop by and check to make sure their home is heated properly, especially during frigid weather.

6. Send a thank-you note to a doctor or nurse.
   Moments of pure human kindness can occur even in the scariest of circumstances. You’ve likely experienced this during a recent hospital stay. We often hear incredible stories of our doctors and nurses going above and beyond to show compassion and kindness to our patients. If there’s a doctor or nurse who did the same for you, thank them. Write them a personal, handwritten note thanking them for the work they do. Let them know that their work matters and their impact is felt to this day. Or better yet, Doctors Day (March 30) and Nurses Week (May 6-12) are almost here. Make an early gift to Frederick Health in honor of a healthcare provider that went the extra mile for you or your loved one.

7. Send an anonymous gift to a patient.
   Located near the surgical waiting area at Frederick Health Hospital, the Gift Shop is the perfect place to buy a beverage, light snack, magazine to read, or gift for a loved one in the hospital. All items are designed to make each stay more comfortable and convenient. If you want to cheer up a patient or let a random person know you’re thinking about them during their time in the hospital, consider sending them an anonymous gift from the Gift Shop. You can visit the Gift Shop during normal hours (Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; and Sunday 1-4 p.m.) or visit our website for more details.

8. Volunteer your time in the Resource Garden.
   Spring is almost here, which means the Hood/Frederick Health Resource Garden will soon be buzzing with activity. The Resource Garden is a collaborative effort of Hood College and Frederick Health to create a pollinator-friendly garden that supports people in the Frederick area who may not have access to fresh vegetables. The plot is flourishing with crops like radishes, peppers, cucumbers, melons, and more. If you want to help provide healthy produce to residents in need, consider donating your time weeding, harvesting, composting, and watering the Resource Garden. You can read why members of the Frederick Health Board of Directors and United Way Summer Serve program donated their time and talents in the garden here.

9. Help individuals facing a life-limiting illness and their families.
   Hospice is not about how you die; it’s about how you live. Frederick Health Hospice honors each person’s journey through illness or grief with dignified care, compassionate support, and gentle guidance. People often ask how they can help Hospice to provide these important medical, emotional, spiritual, and bereavement services. Hospice appreciates and welcomes support in several ways:

• Commemorative engraved tiles honors and memorializing loved ones on the Kline Hospice House Memorial Wall
• Memorial gifts in honor of loved ones who have died
• Lovely angel ornament gifts in memory or honor of a loved one
• Direct service volunteering, working with patients and their families
• Natural health volunteering, offering services like massage therapy or comfort pets to help alleviate stress and anxiety
• Administrative, fundraising, and community support volunteering
• Monetary and planned gifts
• Matching gifts through your employer
• In-kind support by donating services and materials on the Hospice wish list
• Third-party event fundraising on behalf of Frederick Health Hospice
• And more

Visit frederickhealthhospice.org or contact the Volunteer Department at 240-566-3038.

10. Support a friend at an event.
    Perhaps your friend has always wanted to go to a Zumba or yoga and Pilates class but never got around to trying it out. Maybe they recently lost a loved one and could use a friendly face to accompany them to a grief support group. Perhaps they want to learn more about nutrition weight management by a qualified healthcare team or start an exercise program that’s safe, effective, and under specialized supervision and guidance. Frederick Health hosts monthly events, classes, and activities that promote health and wellness in your community. We encourage you to check out our events calendar, as well as LiveWell Frederick’s events calendar, to find out what’s happening in your area.

How will you spread acts of kindness in your community? Tap our social media icons at the top of this page and share your ideas with us.