AT HOME ACTIVITIES:

Kindness Rocks

Kindness Rocks are a quick and creative way to spread joy in your community!

Materials Required)

  • Small, smooth rock from outside or the craft store (about the size of your palm)

  • Paint markers

Tutorial)

  1. Paint: Write an inspirational message or draw something that will bring a smile to whoever finds it.

  2. Hide: Once you’ve finished your creation, you can find somewhere in your community to hide it and wait for someone to find it! Examples include: public library, public park, neighborhood, outside of a restaurant or store, etc.

Animal Blankets

Support your local animal shelter by making these easy no-sew blankets for the dogs and cats!

Materials Required)

  • Scissors (preferably fabric/heavy-duty scissors)

  • 1 yard of no-pill fleece (found at craft stores such as Hobby Lobby)

  • 12-inch ruler

  • Safety pins

Tutorial)

  1. Fold 1 yard of fleece in half. Cut down the fold to make 2 pieces.

  2. Stack pieces. Faded/rougher sides face inwards. Smooth flat.

  3. Cut off the selvage on all sides. (insert pic of selvage)

  4. Cut a 4" × 4" square from each corner. Safety pin the blanket layers on each corner together.

  5. Cut 4" deep fringe (up to the safety pin). Use your ruler width to space each strip. If needed, split the last space into 2 equal strips.

  6. Tie matching fringe together (top and bottom layer). Double-knot every tie and give it a good pull

  7. Remove all safety pins. Have a group take a corner of the blanket and stretch it out

  8. Donate! Visit the website of your local animal shelter and look at their donations list to see if they accept blankets and what times you can drop them off. If you want to further your support, consider donating other items on their wishlist or becoming a volunteer.

Dog Tie-Toys

Show the dogs in your local shelter some love by recycling t-shirts into colorful braided tie-toys!

Materials Required)

  • Three strips of an old t-shirt

  • Clipboard (optional)

Tutorial)

  1. Pick 3 strips of t-shirt to use

  2. Tie all 3 strips together at one end

  3. Secure (optional) - Place the knot under the clipboard to hold the toy in place

  4. Tightly braid the strings to the end (leaving a bit of space at the end)

  5. Tie a knot at the other end and trim any long ends if needed

  6. Donate! Visit the website of your local animal shelter and look at their donations list to see if they accept blankets and what times you can drop them off.

Seed Bombs

Help our bee friends by making plants bloom; no digging required!

Materials Required)

  • Air-dry red clay (Elmer’s?)

  • A pinch of soil

  • Two seeds of your choice

Tutorial)

  1. Roll a small piece of clay into a ball (golf-ball sized)

  2. Press your thumb in the middle of the clay to flatten it into a crater

  3. Add a pinch of soil and 2 seeds

  4. Roll back up into a ball, making sure the soil and seeds don’t spill out

  5. Let it dry for 24-48 hours

  6. Find a good place to grow your plant

  7. Watch as the rain washes away the clay and creates a seed sprout you can water and watch grow!

Hygiene Kits

Everybody deserves to feel like the freshest version of themselves. By making hygiene kits, you can make sure all members of your community have access to basic hygienic necessities!

Materials Required:

  1. Gallon-sized Ziploc bag

NOTE: Before buying anything, look to see if there is a donation list on the website of your local shelter/resource center for the unhoused. Prioritize buying the high-demand materials

Examples of products:

  • Toothpaste/toothbrush

  • Deodorant

  • Body wash

  • Shampoo/Conditioner

  • Moisturizer

  • Water-bottles

  • Wash cloths

Tutorial)

1. Put 1 of each item in the bag, then close it up!

2. Donate! Check the website of the organization you want to donate to. Some places require an organized donation time, while others may have a 24/7 drop-off zone

Organizations:

-LACH (Lancaster Area Coalition for the Homeless): https://www.uwaylcsc.org/lancaster-area-coalition-homeless-lach

-The Roof Above in Charlotte: https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/1dbe98cd-80b8-4ca6-b3e8-339b79134a27/3‍

  • Feminine products

  • Hand sanitizer

  • Comb

  • Wet wipes

  • Floss

  • Tissues

Bookworm Bookmarks for Libraries

Make reading even more fun by creating a bookworm buddy!

Materials Required)

  • 1 blank bookmark

  • 1 tassel

  • 6 circle stickers (different colors)

  • Googly eyes (optional)

  • Pen/marker

Tutorial)

  1. Tie your tassel through the bookmark hole

  2. Place the circle stickers on one side of the bookmark in a row (the first circle/the head should be a bit higher than the body)

  3. Use a pen/marker to draw 2 legs below each circle and the antennae above the head

  4. Donate! Give your bookworm buddy to your closest library. You can also go to different neighborhoods and search for tiny outdoor libraries to give them to.