With the spate of recent tragedies (the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Hurricane Maria in September, and Hurricane Harvey in August), it can be hard keep a positive outlook. Here at ThatHelps, we believe that taking one meaningful action every day — no matter how small or seemingly insignificant — inspires hope and more altruistic actions. Even be the simple act of saying “thanks” can have a lasting ripple effect.

For every problem, there are countless people working together to solve it. And recognizing the efforts of the good in humankind is essential for sustaining the change you want to see, whether it’s humanitarian relief aid or animal conservation. It may seem like there’s a lot of destruction and negativity in the world, but it’s important to remember the acts of kindness, too. And it’s not just individuals or schools who are doing good of late. In one case, it’s half a state…

Take a look a few communities coming together recently to give back.

California opens up their homes. To combat the devastation of the Northern California wildfire, Californians in safe zones are lending their homes to displaced families through Airbnb’s disaster relief initiative.

Denver revolutionizes recovery. A Denver gym called The Phoenix is helping its members stay sober. The members of the gym are recovering addicts on the path to recovery who motivate and support one another to stay buff and sober.

#VegasStrong Since the terrible Las Vegas shooting, there’s been an outpouring of solidarity from all over the country. One of our favorite examples is the bicycling club that raised over $15,000 for the city’s relief fund. And people of all ages and abilities can help stand in solidarity with Vegas, too. The city of Las Vegas is collecting cards of support to promote healing with the community, specifically for the survivors and families of the victims. Show your solidarity and mail a heartfelt message to Las Vegas here.

Central Florida competes for a good cause. Charity Challenge brings the entire Central Florida community together by combining team sports competition and giving back to local charities. The events are 100% volunteer-based and have raised over $6 million for good causes since its inception!

Want to help your community but don’t know where to start? Download ThatHelps’ app and get inspired.

Photo: Times-Republic, Pexels