Kindness in Action: Easy Summer Service Projects for Families

Ben Keller • June 5, 2025

Summer is a season full of sunshine, freedom, and fresh opportunities to connect not just with each other, but with our communities. At Society of Care, we believe small acts of kindness can ripple outward in powerful ways. That’s why this season is a perfect time to get the whole family involved in simple service projects that show care, build empathy, and strengthen bonds.

Whether you have toddlers, teens, or a multigenerational household, here are some easy, impactful ways to serve together this summer.

1. Make “Kindness Kits” for Neighbors in Need

Gather simple essentials like toothbrushes, socks, deodorant, and snacks into resealable bags and keep them in your car to give out when you see someone who could use a little extra support. Even the youngest kids can help pack the kits or decorate cards to tuck inside.


Teachable moment: Talk to your kids about how everyone needs help sometimes and how offering compassion matters.

2. Host a Lemonade Stand for a Cause

Put a new twist on a classic summer activity! Instead of raising money for toys or treats, choose a cause close to your heart—a local animal shelter, food pantry, or children’s hospital. Create signs explaining what your stand supports and involve kids in setting goals and tracking what they raise.

Teachable moment: Show children that their creativity and energy can make a real-world difference.

3. Create Thank-You Notes for Community Helpers

Teachers, mail carriers, sanitation workers, firefighters, librarians—the list of everyday heroes is long. Spend an afternoon making cards and delivering them to local workers. This small gesture can mean so much and helps children see the people behind the services we rely on.


Teachable moment: Discuss what it means to live in a community and how we all play a part.


4. Plant and Share Fresh Produce

If you have a garden (or even a few pots on the patio), grow an extra row of vegetables or herbs and share the harvest with neighbors or a local food pantry. Kids love watching their efforts bloom and learning where food comes from.


Teachable moment: Explore ideas of food security and how sharing nourishes both body and spirit.


5. Collect and Donate Books or Toys

Choose gently-used toys, books, or puzzles to donate to a local shelter, early learning center, or family service agency. Children can help choose the items, decorate the donation boxes, or write notes to include with the items.


Teachable moment: Encourage gratitude and generosity by having conversations about what it means to give to others.


6. Chalk the Sidewalks with Encouragement

Brighten someone’s day with chalk art and kind messages in your driveway or neighborhood park. It’s free, fun, and can bring a smile to anyone who walks by.


Teachable moment: Talk about how even simple actions—like kind words—can have a big impact.


Start Small, Start Now

You don’t need a big budget or a complicated plan to make a difference. All it takes is a little time, a big heart, and a willingness to get started. Let your children help choose a project or rotate weekly to keep things fresh. However you begin, you’re building something powerful: a habit of care, compassion, and community.

Looking for more simple, supportive tools for the kids in your care? Enjoy these additional resources. Explore our blog and resources for ideas that help you nurture connection, one moment at a time. Or, Join our mailing list where we share more resources that accompany our blog posts.

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Read More

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Read More

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Join Our Mailing List

Girl smiling, holding a gift, with a Christmas tree in the background.

How to Prepare for Routine Changes When School Is Out

By Ben Keller • December 4, 2025
When school breaks arrive, the shift in daily structure can feel exciting for some children and overwhelming for others. Many families rely on predictable schedules to support emotional regulation, learning, and a sense of safety.
Boy and man on a couch playing with a blue toy car, smiling at each other.

Creating a Peace Plan for Your Home and Family This Holiday Season

By Ben Keller • November 26, 2025
As the year winds down, many families begin to feel the familiar shift that comes with the holiday season. Plans change, routines get disrupted, and schedules often fill more quickly than expected. These moments can bring joy and connection, but they can also create stress, unpredictability, and emotional strain, especially for caregivers already balancing full plates.
Two people embrace in a backyard. A woman with short hair smiles. Others watch.

Finding Hope and Connection After Losing Someone to Suicide

By Ben Keller • November 19, 2025
Every year, people around the world come together on International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day to remember loved ones, support one another, and acknowledge the unique grief that follows this kind of loss. For many, it is a day filled with tenderness, reflection, and quiet strength.
A man leans towards a young person smiling at a dining table with food and a lit candle.

Preparing for the Holidays with Less Stress and More Connection

By Ben Keller • November 13, 2025
The holiday season brings a mix of excitement, tradition, and togetherness. For many families, especially those balancing caregiving responsibilities, it can also bring added pressure. The pace often speeds up, schedules fill quickly, and expectations both spoken and unspoken, begin to rise.
Two children playing in autumn leaves, tossing them in the air in a sunny park setting.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Supporting Loved Ones as Days Get Shorter

By Ben Keller • November 6, 2025
As daylight hours shrink and temperatures drop, many people notice a change in mood or motivation. For some, this shift is mild. For others, it’s something deeper known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) .
Woman comforts person with hand on head, outdoor setting.

Looking Beyond October: Continuing the Message of Substance Use Prevention

By Ben Keller • October 30, 2025
October marked National Substance Use and Misuse Prevention Month , a time to raise awareness about the impact of substance use and to recognize the vital role families, schools, and communities play in prevention.

Making Mornings Easier: Building Calm and Productive Routines

By Ben Keller • October 23, 2025
For many families, mornings can feel like a race against the clock. Between getting kids dressed, preparing breakfast, finding missing shoes, and getting everyone out the door on time, it’s easy for the day to start with tension instead of calm. But with a little planning and consistency, mornings can become one of the most peaceful and productive parts of the day.
A group of diverse children sitting in a circle outdoors, talking.

Helping Kids Build Healthy Friendships at School

By Ben Keller • October 16, 2025
Friendships play a big role in a child’s sense of belonging and happiness. Through their friends, children learn about communication, empathy, and problem-solving, all skills that support healthy development well into adulthood.
Young girl with curly hair smiles, engrossed in a tablet while relaxing in a hammock surrounded by plants.

Balancing Screen Time and Study Time This School Year

By Ben Keller • October 9, 2025
Between online learning tools, smartphones, and entertainment apps, screens are a constant part of daily life. For children and teens, digital devices can be both a valuable resource and a major distraction, especially during the school year. Striking a healthy balance between screen time and study time helps kids stay focused, rested, and emotionally well.

Building Emotional Resilience in Children During Times of Change

By Ben Keller • October 2, 2025
Change is a natural part of life, but for children it can feel overwhelming. Whether it’s adjusting to a new teacher, moving homes, or adapting to shifts in family routines, these transitions can stir up a wide range of emotions. As caregivers, we play an important role in helping children develop the emotional resilience they need to face challenges with confidence and calm.