St. Louis, Missouri (NAPSI) - Every now and then, we all could use a helping hand. The simplest gesture from a friend or even a stranger can help boost morale and add a silver lining to an ordinary day. Applying that same principle and finding simple ways to support your community through a good deed can make a lasting difference.

Here are some ways you can celebrate the spirit of helping others and get involved in your community. For example:

• Grow some good: Put gardening skills to good use by getting involved with a local tree-planting initiative or an urban garden. Trees, plants and gardens not only beautify the areas where they’re planted, they provide oxygen, homes for animals and even fresh herbs or vegetables.

• Pay your fashion forward: Transform clutter into charity by donating lightly used clothing or shoes from your closet. A number of programs provide business attire to people interviewing for jobs as a way to help workers get back on their feet. Additionally, thrift stores often sell secondhand clothing as a way to raise funds for other programs and nonprofits.

• Share your knowledge: Use your aptitude for reading, writing, math or science to support the next generation of students in their education. Volunteer at a local tutoring center to help children struggling in school.

• Do a good deed each day: Keep your eyes open for the opportunity to open a door for a stranger, mow the lawn for a neighbor or bring a meal to a family with a new baby.

Finally, don’t forget to take a moment and celebrate the good deeds done by your friends. One way to recognize the efforts of others is to become a member of the Sweet Deed Society on the Santa Cruz Organic®Facebook page and nominate a friend who has done a good deed. Participants will also be entered into a grand-prize drawing for a chance to win weekly and grand prizes, including one of two home computer upgrades, awarded as a $2,000 check. To help acknowledge their good deed, nominees can also accept their nomination, join the Sweet Deed Society and be entered for their own chance to win. Visit www.facebook.com/santacruzorganic to join.

No purchase necessary. Promotion open to legal residents of the 50 United Statesand D.C., 18 years and older. Promotion subject to complete Official Rules available at www.facebook.com/santacruzorganic. Void where prohibited.