If you need help, forget the old “wish upon a star.” Just go to wishuponahero.com and post your wish. You never know.

Creating volunteer opportunities for families is one way organizations can increase their volunteer force. It can also become a way for today’s hectic families to spend quality time together while doing good deeds for those in need.

This non-profit, US-based organization uses an interesting combination of grants and loans to help poor communities in countries across the globe create and maintain safe drinking water and sanitation systems.

London-based “We Are What We Do” has turned its best-selling action books into a hugely popular website with nearly 4 million helpful actions recorded so far.

While being nice to others is clearly a virtue, it does not necessarily make one charitable. Kindness may give someone a smile, but what needy people really need is a helping hand or, honestly, a hand-out.

Years of research have proven that volunteering increases emotional health, decreases stress and depression, and can actually help reduce aging. It seems volunteering is good for the giver too.