7 ways to improve the world

We all want to put our best foot forward as we step off into the new year. While many of us set personal goals -- drop some pounds, call Mom more often -- there's always room on the list for more altruistic pursuits.

You don't need a $1,000 debit card from Oprah to give to your favorite cause. There are plenty of opportunities to do good waiting for you, many right in your own backyard.

There are many noble causes, and here's a way to support two at once. If your passion is helping the elderly and you have a soft spot for homeless animals, there are organizations that allow you to aid both. Through the Animal Welfare League (www.animalwelfareleague.com) in southwest suburban Chicago Ridge, volunteers escort pets to nursing homes, giving elderly residents a chance to interact and bond with the furry creatures -- and they also help educate kids and mentally handicapped people about pets and their care. Or, pet lovers can consider adopting an adult animal, who League director and president Linda Estrada says are in special need of homes. Call (708) 636-8586.

Not sure of your passion? To narrow your search or brainstorm ideas, visit www.usaweekend.com/diffday. The magazine sponsors the volunteer volunteer extravaganza "Make a Difference Day." USA Weekend's Web site has details on hundreds of projects and an idea generator to help match your interests to a volunteer project in your area.

Make a personal contribution to education in Chicago, or get a group together to support a classroom project through donorschoose.org/cps. You decide which project you'd like to fund and how much you give. You'll hear back from the students and their teacher about your project. Current needs posted on the Web site include a map of the world, poetry books and books on tape. Who knows? Your contribution may be the one kids remember long after the year is over.

Get rid of that musty, rusty old car that's been leaking oil all over the garage floor for who knows how long. Many charities will haul it away -- and you get a tax deduction! Volunteers of America is one organization that does the car donation thing well. Its programs help abused children, youth at risk, the frail elderly and the homeless. They're on the Web at carshelpingpeople.org or choose your own charity at donateacar.com.

Look for stylish ways to consciously support companies and causes that help those in need around the world. Global Girlfriend (www.globalgirlfriend.com), a fair-trade mail-order catalog and Web site, sells apparel, accessories and home decor items that benefit 30 worldwide non-profit organizations that support women's rights. Find everything from a mirrored evening bag from Afghanistan ($38) to a wire-and-glass-beaded cuff from South Africa ($22).

If you'd rather give closer to home, check out Chicago's own Gallery 37 Store at 66 E. Randolph, which sells everything from paintings and sculptures to jewelry and ceramics created largely by 14- to 21-year-old apprentice artists in the "After School Matters" program. All sales proceeds go to programs supported by both Gallery 37 (a division of the Chicago Cultural Affairs Department) and After School Matters, which provides positive after-school activities around the city for Chicago teens. Visit www.g37centerforthearts.org or call (312) 744-7274.

You may not have much money to donate, but we've all got a few hours here and there. Help young people help themselves and become a mentor. Rather than griping about today's kids, get involved and encourage them to shape up through organizations such as Chicago Youth Programs (www.chicagoyouthprograms.org). If you're a lover of words, school 3- to 6-year-olds through the one-on-one "Read to Me" program. If you're a music or video pro, volunteer in the Studio program and help teens create positive messages through music and video making. Inspiring others to achieve is an act that pays dividends years into the future -- and we all reap the benefits.

If you know a family stricken by illness or blessed with a new baby, organize seven volunteers to prepare and drop off a meal every night for a week. And if you want to be extra angelic, send enough for guests and leftovers. A common practice for previous generations, this tradition still thrives in small towns and close-knit communities. In times of stress or adjustment, such gestures are welcome and long remembered.

Don't have time to cook yourself? The Dinner Club (www.thedinnerclub.biz) in west suburban La Grange will deliver tasty, nutritious entrees to you or a family you'd like to help within a five-mile radius for an extra $20. Each meal contains six servings; with eight meals priced at $172 and 12 meals at $220. The company also offers gift certificates so the recipient can choose when to order. Call (708) 579-3433 for more information.

Round up your fellow green thumbs and turn an empty lot, a parkway or a boulevard into a community garden. Gardening Outside the Wall, a program of the Chicago Botanic Garden (www.chicagobotanic.org), matches organizations with master gardeners and grants up to $500 and tools to plan and create community garden sites. For more information, call the Botanic Garden's education department at (847) 835-8250.