Water can be a valuable resource for birds when it gets cold outside. Sure, there are electrical heaters and fancy devices that aerate the water, but why bother when you can use the sun? If you have a birdbath, now is the time to give it a few coats of nontoxic black latex paint for outdoor use. Let it dry and cure for a few weeks, then place it on the south or southwestern side of your property, where you have the most amount of sun during the day. The black-painted birdbath will absorb the heat and keep water from freezing. 

Want to help wildlife make it through the cold winter? Don't do a thing! Leave your garden beds and container gardens full of dead stalks, leaves and flower seed heads. This will be vital food and protection for wildlife. Large flowers like black-eyed Susans, purple coneflowers, sunflowers, marigolds, phlox and zinnias should also be left alone. When they poke up through the white snow, it'll be vital food to help birds and furry creatures. Come spring, it's fine to clip them and start a fresh planting in your garden.

Many of us use supermarket reward cards to help save money on our grocery bill when we shop, but did you know you can also help your community in just one step? Major supermarket chains, like Safeway, Pathmark, Shoprite, Meijers and many more, let you donate reward points when you register your card with a charity. The list of nonprofits includes schools, anti-hunger organizations and churches. Wouldn't it be nice to know that when you shop for groceries you can also help a local soup kitchen or food bank get funds to support their work? Individual stores list how to sync your card on their websites.