DoSomething Day is Australia’s biggest celebration of volunteering

Do something wonderful on Wednesday, July 19. Pay for someone’s coffee, bake a cake for the office, make someone smile. Post a photo of your good deed on social media #dosomethingday.

• How kind are you? Try our DoSomething Day Quiz?
• Shop and share your groceries
• Give a child the gift of reading
• Help out Healthy Harold

Mark next Wednesday in your diaries with a smiley face.

It is DoSomething Day — an initiative of NewsLocal newspapers, ClubsNSW and the charity Do Something Near You to promote volunteering, highlight charity work and inspire random acts of kindness.

With all the grim news around at the moment, DoSomething Day attempts to turn the focus on what binds us together as communities. After the success of last year’s inaugural event, this year we want people to use the day to commit to making a difference. It might be by putting your name down as a volunteer, making a donation or simply helping a stranger.

Make someone smile for DoSomething Day.

We will be telling great stories of people like former ice addict Zakh Hussein who decided to turn his life around one day by cooking food for the homeless. He spent over $90 buying groceries, cooked 25 meals in his kitchen, and packaged them in containers, each with a message of hope written on the bottom. Then he went out and found people to feed.

“I was stoked, I was really stoked when I was going back home … I can’t even explain how good you feel knowing you’re helping someone else,” he said.

Cooking a meal for someone is a simple way to make a difference. Picture: Craig Wilson

“If you’re going to help someone just go and do it.”

The initiative is backed by ClubsNSW whose member clubs have organised a range of events to give back to the community on the day.

CEO Anthony Ball said: “ClubsNSW and our member clubs are proud to support Do Something Day and encourage people to give their best through volunteering, donating to a charity or performing a random act of kindness.

“The club industry in NSW boasts over 44,000 volunteers who collectively dedicate over 1.6 million hours of their time per year to activities like running the sausage sizzle at Saturday sport, raising funds for cancer research and cleaning up the local neighbourhood.

“The valuable contributions made by individuals and local clubs is something we can all be proud of.”

Plant a tree in your community. Picture: John Appleyard

DoSomething Near You founder Jon Dee urged people to get involved on July 19.

“There are many charities, causes and organisations that need our help. This DoSomething Day, we’re hoping that people will choose a cause that they can support throughout the year,” Mr Dee said.

“It can be as simple as volunteering your time, making a donation or hosting a fundraiser at home or work. Helping our community organisations is a wonderful way to give back and really make a difference,” he said.

“We’re very grateful that NewsLocal and ClubsNSW have made such a difference by supporting DoSomething Day. It wouldn’t have happened without them.”

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?

There are endless ways you can help others. Can’t decide? Let the “kind-o-miser” on our website generate a kind deed suggestion or try our Do Something Day Quiz which will help match you with a charity that reflects your ideals.

Post your DoSomething Day images to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

ON THE DAY

Tweet, Instagram or Facebook a picture that captures the spirit of kindness and generosity on Do Something Day — and use the hashtags #dosomethingday and #giveyourbest. It could be a picture of a volunteers at charity you are already involved with. It could be a picture acknowledging someone in your community who selflessly works for others. It could be a snap of the nice person who serves your coffee every day with a smile.