What YOU Can Do!

What YOU Can Do!

You can dream, you can write, you can learn, you can teach, you can brighten someone's day... but what else can YOU do to make a difference?

Many young Can Do! Visitors have written to ask me exactly that. They want to know how they can join in and be part of Can Do! and Can Do!'s efforts. My answer is that there are many "Can Do!" ways you CAN make a difference in your own community... wherever you are.

Can Do! is dedicated to inspiring a "can-do" attitude and approach to life in everyone... no matter what their challenges... so that EVERYONE will be able to truly believe that "anything is possible".

illustration of six faces

One way YOU can make a Can Do! difference is by volunteering in your community... whether the community is your school, your town, your state, your country, or the world.

illustration of one student writing, and one student helping

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Ways you can make a difference:

Be a tutor or mentor to a younger student.
Donate some of your spare time during school to help out teachers with younger students.
Help organize a class or school-wide food drive, warm clothing drive, or bottle drive to donate to local charities.
Volunteer to work at your local soup kitchen with your family, scout group, or class.
Visit a senior citizen in a nursing home once a week, or even once a month. Be sure to take some paper, pencils, crayons or markers along so you can create some artwork while you're there - I'll bet they'd love to have some of your original artwork to brighten up their rooms!
Help lead a class or school-wide fund raiser for a charity that is important to you.
Do you have more ideas about how you or other kids can make a Can Do! difference? If you do, then be sure to share it by taking part in our What Can YOU Do? activity!

You want to know what else you can do to make a difference?

Below is a list of links to "can-doish" non-profit organizations that help people live healthier, happier, and safer lives. Most of these web sites have a page to explain how volunteers can contribute to their organization - whether it's by fundraising, donating time, or simply helping to spread awareness.

American Lung Association

Habitat for Humanity - "Seeking to end poverty housing and homelessness"

UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund)

American Red Cross - "Provides disaster relief and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies"

Kids Can Make A Difference - "Inspiring kids to end hunger and poverty..."

National Coalition for the Homeless

E-mail Maribeth with questions, comments, suggestions, or for more information.