The Conspiracy Chronicles: May 2020

Welcome to May! To our newcomers: a big, warm, virtual hug! (And a virtual hug to anybody who needs it!)

The Conspiracy Chronicles is Ever Widening Circles’ monthly newsletter where we take a look at some of the world’s biggest issues, learn what we can do to help, and meet a thought leader making the world better with their work. Together we are proving #ConspiracyofGoodness is alive and well in our world! 

The Problem: Does One Act of Kindness Add Up?

What impact can one person have on the world? How can our dollar donated, an hour spent volunteering, or our random act of kindness add up to something world-changing?

When it comes to volunteering our time or money, it can sometimes feel like our efforts as an individual don’t add up to much. This can be discouraging to some people. Very often, we have the idea that it’s only big organizations or big donations that have an impact on the world. But what would happen if we knew that every single little act of kindness mattered? What if we all knew, for certain, that our small acts of generosity with our time, money, or talents were a part of something larger than ourselves and that, together, our small efforts were creating waves of positivity and change?

To start us off on solving this problem, let's look to the numbers. When you see how many people are out there doing the small things, it doesn't seem like such a small movement anymore!

Small Acts Make a Big Difference!

Are you a part of the 30% of the US adult population volunteers their time, talents, and energy? (Non-Profit Trust) Together, these volunteers topped 6.9 billion hours of volunteer time in 2018! (Corporation for National and Community Service). So, whether you donated an hour of your time, or volunteered an entire day, you were a part of this remarkable effort!

Even if you didn’t formally volunteer and are just a good samaritan, being kind where you can to your friends and neighbors, you’re a part of the progress, too! You are not alone in your kindness and generosity! 43.1% of Americans reported supporting their friends and family and 51.5% reported doing favors for neighbors. (Corporation for National and Community Service)  I don’t know about you, but that makes me feel like raking the neighbor's yard or taking the afternoon to help my grandma tidy the basement is a part of a wave of positivity--even if it feels like just a small act of kindness.

Small Donations Go a Long Way!

So, what about donations? Certainly, the only way they can have any kind of impact is on a grand scale? Well, actually, giving a little can mean a lot!

According to Facebook, as of February 6, 2020, their users raised over $3 billion for personal fundraisers and nonprofit causes since they launched the feature to do so in 2013. $1 billion of that was from birthday fundraisers alone! (Facebook) Think about that, for 7 years, people have been asking for a few dollars here and there from friends or joining movements like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to collect money that goes towards a cause they care about. With small donations from people around the world, we've been able to raise $3 billion, together. 

Informal giving has seen an enormous leap, too, through fundraising platforms like Go Fund Me. They have given over 120 million people a place to donate over $9 billion to causes ranging from supporting families after a house fire, to medical expenses, to massive fundraisers to help after natural disasters! (GoFundMe) Many of those donations are in small amounts! It’s a great example of how little donations can create a huge wave of change. And, how, the little ways we contribute can have a tremendous impact.

Right now, our little acts of kindness are adding up!

At a time when people can’t volunteer in person or are on the edges of their ability to donate, people are embracing the power of one to start a movement and give back however they can. It’s motivating to know that together, with all of us in our own corners supporting each other in our own ways, we can solve nearly every problem in this world. The ways we contribute, even in the smallest amount—reducing the spread of disease by staying in, donating our time to a good cause, giving a dollar to an organization that we trust—really does make a difference if we all work together! 

Our Featured Thought Leader!

YOU!

Is this cheating? This isn’t an organization! Well, no, you're correct there, but we're talking about how each of us can find a way that's best for us to help others. You have the power to make a difference here!

Whether you’re great at baking and can send a few extra loaves of bread to your neighbor, are able to do grocery runs for somebody in need, sew up a couple of masks, give to a GoFundMe for a family that lost their home in a disaster, or can send a hand-written thank you letter to a local hospital, the kind of generosity that we are seeing people take on during this moment in history is such a great example of people doing whatever they can with the resources and talents they have. 

We don’t have a lot of updated statistics for donations and volunteering for the COVID-19 pandemic, but it's obvious that there is a wave of volunteerism and giving happening around the world! High schoolers are volunteering to create a positive messaging hotline for seniors who are in self-isolation. Community members are creating tiny free pantries to share goods with those that need them and the movement is spreading! People are spreading joy by remaking famous works of art while in quarantine, restaurants are opening up their kitchens to cook meals for people who are homeless, and photographers are using their talents to shoot creative front porch portraits. People are coming up with so many creative ways to do what they can to make the world a better place!

As a team, we are so inspired by our community during these times. People are coming up with ingenious ways to make the world a better place, even when it seems at its bleakest. Every share we see on social media celebrating a story of positivity, every donation we see to organizations on the front lines, and every bread loaf we see shared with others reminds us that it’s still an amazing world!

If you need a little inspiration on ways you can help now, and in the future, check out the next section!

Things You Can Do!

• Search! A simple Google search for “ways to donate during COVID-19” or “volunteer opportunities now” can yield a lot of ideas on ways you can contribute. A great place to start is to find the information for your local food bank and see what they need. If you have a special expertise (maybe sewing) you could add that to your Google search and see what comes up! Starting local, asking a friend, or asking your online communities is a great place to find reputable places to donate and volunteer. 
   
• Support local! Supporting a local business, restaurant, or entrepreneur right now is an easy way to give back to your community and do a little good. Check out your favorite business or restaurant’s Facebook or social media to see if they have special hours or if they have special curbside pickup options. You can also check out local groups on social media and on platforms for connecting people locally, like Front Porch Forum in Vermont and New York, to see if people are selling local goods or produce you can buy. Now that spring has sprung, you might find a way to buy some local flowers or produce and support a neighbor or two! 
   
• Support your friends! We don’t all have to be starting something to be helpful, but if a friend of ours is finding a way to give back, consider supporting them! In our own office, Sam and Renee have both used their talents as artists and singers to raise donations for organizations they support!
   
• Do what you can! Whether we have time, money or special talents, doing what comes most natural to us is the easiest way to get started. If you’re a social butterfly, find an organization you want to support and get your friends involved (it might be a good excuse to call and catch up). If you’re a seamstress, find some patterns for masks and make a few to donate to those in need (or your friends and family). Already going to the grocery store? Pick up some goods to donate to the local food bank. These little ways we can put our energy into being helpful really do add up! 
   
• Get inspired! Trust us, we know that social media and the internet can be a depressing place sometimes, but you can get a lot of great positive inspiration on ways to make a difference by joining groups like our Conspiracy of Goodness Facebook Group. If you are into a particular niche interest or hobby, you can also join those groups on Facebook and other forms of social media! A simple post asking how others are helping out can be an amazing way to get some positive inspiration in your area of expertise!

Now, more than ever we are seeing that the Conspiracy of Goodness is alive and well!

Keep up the good work, keep doing what you can, keep being inspiring, and being inspired by others. We are all thought leaders when it comes to doing what we can to make the world a better place for everybody! 

Keep Up with the Community!

Have you found a way to volunteer, donate, or help out? Let us know what you’re up to by using #HelpfulNow and #ConspiracyofGoodness in your posts, and share it with the Conspiracy of Goodness Facebook Group!

Follow Ever Widening Circles on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter where we will be posting some new content and more information about our work!

Finally, join the #ConspiracyofGoodness Facebook Group to see what amazing stories other people have to share, and the inspiration you come across!

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