Help a homebound neighbor make home improvements

Want to do good close to home? Offer to help out an elderly or disabled neighbor with odd jobs around the house. You don’t have to be a professional to help out, just be enthusiastic and plan ahead.

Getting started

Decide what you’re willing to do. You could:

• paint a room
• rearrange furniture
• plant some flowers
• walk the dog
• rake the lawn
• wash windows
• organize the pantry
• shovel snow
• Any home improvement or maintenance job your neighbor isn’t able to do or might need a hand with.
• Call or visit your neighbor to ask what she needs done around the house. Offer to do a few jobs from the list above. Be polite and don’t assume she’ll say yes.
• Enlist friends and family to join you. Ask if they have any tools or supplies they can bring along.

Once you figure out what you’ll be doing, consider visiting your local hardware store to ask for donations or discounts on what you’ll need

• Before you go, think about what materials you’ll need and be prepared to explain how you’ll use them.
• Ask to speak to the store owner or manager.
• Introduce yourself, describe your neighbor’s situation, and what materials you’d like donated. Be sure not to disclose any personal information your neighbor wants kept private.
• If it’s okay with your neighbor, offer to place the store’s sign outside the home while you’re working in it as a thank you for the donation.
• Remember to always be polite. If they say no, don’t take it personally, thank them anyway, and try another store.

Be sure to follow up with your neighbor a few days or weeks afterwards to check if she needs anything else done.

Find more awesome ways to get involved with action guides, volunteer opportunities, and causes at DoSomething.org