The Daily Good
Welcome to The Daily Good
The coronavirus pandemic has turned our world upside down. In these tense times, we’ve got to take extra care of ourselves and our communities. At the same time, with much of the world put on hold, there’s more time than ever to do good. Whether you’re locked down with us or standing in solidarity elsewhere, let’s take a moment each day to do our Daily Good and help bring a better world into being.
We’ve invited our Community sign up to receive a daily action or activity in their inbox every morning through the duration of this crisis. Sign up to do your Daily Good, or check out past actions below!
Previous actions
Day 1: Pen Pals
This Daily Good came from our Executive Director, Michael O’Heaney:
“Over the last couple of years, I’d lost touch with a dear friend and mentor. We’ve all done it; there was a lot going on in my life, including the loss of my father this past year, and she and her husband lived a long ways away. But no excuse – I’d not made the effort and we’d not been in contact. Then, that lack of contact gains a kind of inertia that’s tough to overcome!
“But as the coronavirus pandemic emerged and spread, like many others I took stock of the wellbeing and safety of those around me. And I thought of my old friend. So I reached out to her and begged forgiveness for the passage of time, though I knew she’d understand, and filled her in on my life. “Such a wonderful gift to receive,” she replied, “it’s great to hear from you!” Indeed, it was.”
Do you have you an old friend you’ve been meaning to write? Maybe now is the time to pick up a pen or pencil or sit down to the keyboard. Today’s Daily Good is to write someone a letter.
Day 2: A Poem
This Daily Good came from Community Engagement Manager Brett Chamberlin:
In recent weeks, I’ve found myself taking comfort in the volumes of poetry that have found their way onto my shelves over the years. Poetry is a potent way to make sense of these turbulent times; “reality only reveals itself when it is illuminated by a ray of poetry,” the French painter George Braques wrote.
I have a particular love for the Beat poets who sparked the San Francisco poetry renaissance of the 1950’s and sowed the seeds for the hippie movement of the next decade. If you’ve never read the works of Gary Snyder, Diane Di Prima, or Lawrence Ferlinghetti, you’ve been missing out. But the poem I’d like to share today comes from the Iraqi American poet Dunya Mikhail, and is titled “Another Planet” – you can read it here.
Today’s Daily Good is to find a poem that speaks to you, then share it with with someone else. Go forth, discover, and share! Remember Plato: “poetry is nearer to vital truth than history.”
Day 3: A Picture
This Daily Good came from Executive Director, Michael O’Heaney:
The ‘stay home’ order in California — where most of the Story of Stuff Project’s staff is based — allows us to get outside to exercise or go for a walk, so long as we keep our distance. And so I’ve been going out for long neighborhood strolls at least twice a day, just to get a little fresh air and get away from the news!
With the streets mostly empty of people, I’ve taken to snapping pictures of interesting plants or streetscapes, even the unique ‘closed’ signs small businesses have been posting in their windows. Yesterday, after a spring rain here in the Bay Area, I even captured a rainbow!
Pausing to take in the rich detail in the world around me, especially when there’s so much going on, helps me to relax and recharge. Sharing these photos with my friends and family keeps my spirits up, and theirs too, especially those who aren’t supposed to or able to go out.
Are you taking pictures of what you’re seeing around you? For today’s Daily Good, we invite you to take and share a picture with someone; you can even share it with a lot of someones by tagging it #TheDailyGood2020 on social media.

Day 4: The window
This Daily Good came from a Community member in Germany (who asked that we not use their name):
Your picture of a rainbow reminded me of something that is done here in Germany by children who have to stay at home. The kids paint a rainbow and put the picture on the front door or in a window, so that everybody can see it. Other children who go out for a walk with their parents see the art, a reminder that everyone is sticking together even while apart. They can count how many rainbow pictures they see on their walk!
Your Daily Good is to hang some art or a message of solidarity in your window for others to see. It just might brighten someone’s day – and yours!
Day 5: Say thanks
This Daily Good came from the the project Voices from the Front, a non-partisan journalism project to collect videos from those on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 and to thank those front line workers.
If you’re a front lines worker during this pandemic – including healthcare workers, first responders, grocery store clerks, food and packager delivery people – visit the Voices from the Front website to tell your story. For those sitting anxiously at home, your Daily Good today is to record a short video to say thank you to all those working tirelessly on the front lines.
Day 6: A walk
This Daily Good came from Chief of Staff Elisa Ringholm:
As a city girl who hasn’t owned a car in 15 years, I love walking. On an average week, I walk to the grocery store, to work, to the bus or train stop, or to run an errand. My favorite walking companion is my dog, Dixie, who is always over the moon to be outside sniffing about. Stay-at-home orders have been in place to reduce the spread of coronavirus for less than two weeks where I live – a dramatic and necessary step to save as many lives as possible from the virus. During this short time, I notice more neighbors walking in the streets during more hours of the day (while staying six feet apart from one another for our collective health and safety, of course). Because of the isolation and anxiety so many are experiencing, we long for connection. People make eye contact, wave, and smile like never before. We say hi and ask how it’s going. Just this week a neighbor put a colorful hand made sign that said “H-E-L-L-O-!” in her window and sat there with her grandchild waving at walkers like me. I am grateful for these moments: grateful or my breath, body, and community. Grateful for the ground beneath my feet, the sunshine on my face, the breeze. Walking reminds me that even in the most challenging times the world is full of beauty and grace.
Your Daily Good is to go for a walk (paying careful attention to physical distancing requirements!). Lace up those shoes and get out there! A little fresh air and sunshine does one well.
Day 7: The recipe
This Daily Good comes from our Digital Media Producer, Miguel Astudillo, who reports on a new experiment taking place in his kitchen:
I’ve never made any fermented food in my life, and with all the time I have now, I thought I’d give a try. Perhaps this style of creating and preserving probiotic food is a good analogy of the times we are facing. We need to build our immune system and think of more radical ways of interacting with our foods.
This is a beets, carrots, purple cabbage sauerkraut and it’s very easy to make. All you need is water, non-ionized salt, cabbage, ginger, garlic and time. I used a coffee filter to let the ecosystem burp its way out. I’ll leave this for a week and will let everyone now how it tastes after.
Your Daily Good is to cook or prepare something new! Maybe it’s a good time to experiment with fermentation, bake something special, or try a new and unknown vegetable. Bon appetit!
