Mother Teresa once said, “never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest to you.” It’s because of mindsets like this that the International Day of Charity was declared in 2012 by the United Nations. Since then, every year on September 5, we remember the life of Mother Teresa and work to spread the messages of love and inclusion she believed in.

However, while this day is known as an official day to help to those around you, the mental, physical and emotional benefits of charity can be felt by anyone. While the exact reason isn’t known, many health experts agree that helping others can leave you with a greater sense of purpose and meaning in life. It also allows you to de-stress while giving you an opportunity to meet people and build new, stronger relationships.

To celebrate this wonderful cause, are some ways you can give back this International Day of Charity or any other day of the year:

• Cleanup your community – There is always a need for community clean up – whether for your own or a community nearby. Participating in a cleanup effort can help you get out of the house and get the benefit of physical activity while giving back your community at the same time. Check with local charitable organizations to see if there are any ongoing efforts or planned cleanup events. If there aren’t opportunities like those, you can still help by doing things such picking up garbage from the sidewalk, local parks or even in the grocery store parking lot.

• Feed the homeless – There are lots of people living without homes who wonder when and where their next meals will come from. Volunteering at food banks, such as Feeding America or Meals on Wheels, is a great way to make an immediate difference in someone’s life. You can even take the initiative on your own and work to drop off home cooked meals to those in need.

• Be a tutor – With school well under way this year, many parents or teachers may be struggling to help their students thrive with the recent changes classrooms and campuses are facing during COVID-19. Some may be struggling to keep up with online classes and need extra help with schoolwork, while others may have difficulty handling time management or staying focused. By reaching out to schools in your area, you provide students with a mentor to help them be successful in school and in life.

• Bring smiles to the elderly – The coronavirus pandemic has made spending time with people difficult to do. One section of people who are feeling the effects of this are the elderly. Get in contact with a nearby nursing or other eldercare homes to set up times to video chat, write emails to or even make phone calls to residents. Some may be feeling lonely and in need of human interaction or even need a laugh to help keep their spirits up.

• Donate – If you’re unable to volunteer your time you can always donate. Donating things clothes to your nearby Goodwill, Salvation Army or even directly to shelters. If there is furniture you’re no longer needing, you can check with churches in the area if they need couches or chairs. You can even donate old furniture to the nearby high school for their theater programs. If you don’t have any spare clothes, furniture or other material things to donate, simply giving a few dollars to your favorite charitable organization is still a great way to give back.