Local animal shelters are always in need of financial donations and volunteers to help find forever homes for the many animals they bring in. If you can’t donate money or time, the next best thing is to donate things they need. Collect newspapers and shredded paper from your office, which the shelters use to line cages. But many don’t accept shredded paper that has gone through the new machines that shred paper into tiny, confetti-style pieces instead of long strands. Most shelters do not want old T-shirts, pillowcases, sheets and towels; those items becomes trash and more work when they are donated.

Before you reach for the chemical flea repellent sprays if you suspect your dog’s bed might be infested, try trapping the pesky pests instead. When your dog isn’t on the bed, put it in a dark room and place a small lamp by the bed. Leave the light on, and put a bowl of very soapy water near the bed and light. The fleas are attracted to the warmth of the light and will fall into the trap. If you see fleas in the water, you can take steps to clean and disinfect the bed.

Does your local mall have a fountain or wishing well that collects spare change? Do you work with a local nonprofit organization? Many malls donate the change to support local groups, but it’s the organization’s responsibility to count and deposit the change with a local bank. If the mall manager is willing to give you the coins, you can avoid the hassle of cleaning, drying and counting every single coin: Your local bank can work with the United States Mint and its mutilated coin department to accept the buckets of wet and slimy coins. The Mint handles everything and will directly deposit the amount into the charity’s bank account. It’s worth connecting the dots and trying to raise coins for a good cause.