"Work is Love Made Visible" ~Kahlil Gibran
When we celebrate Valentine’s Day, we often show love to our partners or closest friends and family members. While showing love to those we know is powerful, we can take this time to extend love to those we don’t know who are in need and strengthen our commitment to social change. Here are three tips for spreading the love.
Commit to a regular act for a cause you love: Care about the environment? Commit carrying your own bags to the grocery store. Care about hunger? Commit to serving food one a month. Use today to find one regular act you can commit to for a cause that means a lot to you.
Become a champion for an organization you love: We all have a nonprofit that touches us personally—our church, our local library, or our alma maters. Share their good work through your social networking profiles, send them a note telling, them what they mean to you, and ask others to support them as well.
Serve with those you love: Invite the people you love to join you in volunteer activities. Whether you are writing letters to troops abroad, cleaning up local parks, or serving food at a soup kitchen, the love giving and of gratitude are infectious and long lasting. And getting as many people involved creates stronger communities of giving.
Additionally, the following people and organizations have come up with wonderful tips on giving back on Valentine’s Day.
Do Something: 11 Ways to Have a Green and Pink Valentine’s Day
Britt Bravo: Add a Little Do Goodness to Your Valentine’s Day
She also recommends the following posts from other organizations on doing-good on Valentine’s Day:
- Countdown to Valentine’s Day: Send a Valentine for Good on Joanne’s Nonprofit Blog
- 14 Charitable Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day on the Case Foundation Blog
- Top Ten Valentine’s Day Gifts That Give Back on the HuffPost Impact
- 10 Green Ways to Have Fun on Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles on Green LA Girl
- Valentines That Give Back by Britt last year.
Change.org : This Valentine’s Day Go Read for Women’s Hearts
The Chronicle of Philanthropy: For Valentine’s Day Give Cards that Give Back Thanks to Target
Philanthropy 411: 12 Terrific Charitable Ideas for Valentine’s Day
Photo Credit: Sister72, flickr, creative commons
There are several stories about the history of Valentine’s Day. And, what it has become to be today may change next year. So why not define it for yourselves!!
Thanks Allison for this article and awakening in me my need to show love to others that are not in my sphere of influence.
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It’s nice to have a post about Valentine’s Day that focuses on loving others in a non-romantic way. Contributing to making someone’s life better is the highest act of love.
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ajlovesya Reply:
February 25th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Absolutely. You can never go wrong showing your love for humanity by uplifting and supporting those in need,
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Thanks for the shout out!
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ajlovesya Reply:
February 25th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Youre welcome!
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Thanks for including Philanthropy411′s list of charitable Valentine’s Day gifts. Great blog!
– Kris Putnam-Walkerly, Putnam Community Investment Consulting and Philanthropy411.
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ajlovesya Reply:
February 25th, 2010 at 10:48 am
No problem! It’s a fantastic list!
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