I’ve been thinking lately about the concept of “little.”

“It’s the little things that count,” they say. Or “Every little bit helps.” “Good things come in small packages.” Even “A little dab’ll do ya” (… ask a baby boomer if you don’t know this one).

But when we’re faced with problems and needs that seem so large and pervasive, it’s hard to imagine that “little” bits of anything can do any good at all. Here at the Lawrence Humane Society, when we see all the hundreds of dogs and cats and birds and rabbits who need help every day, it can seem like we’re trying to empty an ocean with a teaspoon.

But I want to reassure you that each of us doing a “little” really can add up to a lot. The greatest good in the world happens one person at a time. And you don’t even have to be wealthy or well-connected to make a difference. Right now, today, you can begin to help the Lawrence Humane Society, and you don’t need anything more than a willingness to help and access to a computer.

First, head to the setting for your computer’s homepage and change it to www.goodsearch.com. Below the search box is an area that asks, “Who do you Goodsearch for?” If you key in “Lawrence Humane Society (Lawrence, KS)” and then hit the “verify” key, your search engine will be set to give one penny to our shelter for each search you do. Doesn’t sound like much? Well, so far this year our users have earned us $73.28. That’s almost 350 pounds of cat litter. Or seven stainless steel food bowls that teething puppies can’t destroy. Or 12 inexpensive blankets that will keep 12 elderly pets warm and dry.

Still think these few pennies don’t add up to anything? If you’re a power-shopper (and you know who you are, especially with the holidays coming up), you can help the Lawrence Humane Society by going to www.i-give.com and signing up. It’s easy: in the Step 1 box, just select our state, and below that select “Animals.” We’re listed as “Humane Society of Lawrence”; when you hit that, you’ll be taken to a screen that asks you to “Select this Cause.” On the next screen, put in your personal information. This site has an offer that says “Free First-Time Bonus: We’ll donate $5 to your cause when you join and shop within 45 days!” That means right up front you’ll have given us the equivalent of box of laundry detergent or a large bottle of dish soap just for doing the shopping you’d do anyway. And each time you shop after that, we’ll benefit from you as well. So far the shelter has earned more than $3,000 from this site.

If you’re really into pet products, www.zootoo.com is your way to put us in the running for a million-dollar makeover or a $10,000 prize. The little blue triangle that says “Join Us” will bring you to a sign-up screen. Key in the 66044 zip code, and you’ll find us listed as “Lawrence Humane Society Inc.” Once you’ve registered, you can add to our points by uploading pictures and videos of your companion animal family or by reviewing and rating pet products. Our staff members have taken to this one, and they invite you to do the same.

It’s just another “little” something you can do that, when added with the others, can reap big benefits for us.

As for any other small thing you can do to help make a difference for us, well, we have a thousand ideas. For starters, grab a jar and begin a yearlong collection of “found money” – those pennies and dimes you see on the floors in grocery store lines or around vending machines. I do this every year, and after Jan. 1 I donate it all to our Spay/Neuter Fund. So far this year I have more than $20 in found change; that means in the past two years, I’ve paid for one spay or neuter without doing anything more than bending over to pick up coins.

You can also arrange to bring in all the aluminum cans from your office on a regular basis, along with the ones from home – that also helps our spay/neuter program.

Speaking of your office, are you tired yet of those crummy gifts you give each other for birthdays or retirement parties or holiday get-togethers? Then follow the lead of the many young people who hold Humane Society Wish List parties instead, and get together a huge collection of items to donate.

Or better still, if you’re looking for small gifts or stocking stuffers for the winter holidays, why not go to www.lawrencehumane.org and use PayPal to sign up friends as Humane Society members?

When you’re at the store, toss a pack of AAA batteries or a roll of paper towels or any other single item from our Wish List into your shopping cart for us. We’re grateful for all of these.

Or you can clean out your linen closet and drop off those old bath towels, sheets and blankets you never use any more. We know lots of kittens, bunnies, puppies and adult animals who can snuggle up in those, and they don’t mind if the edges are a little ragged.

Do you have a hobby, like quilting or crocheting? If you enjoy doing these things just for fun, we’d be happy to accept your completed projects for our annual Pawsible Dream Auction or Animal Fair.

And extremely important to us but absolutely free for you: Please shop at local Lawrence businesses that support our Humane Society. Tell the owners that you appreciate their help and want to shop with them in return. A little good will goes a long way.

But above all, please don’t think that something “little” doesn’t matter to us. When each of you does something little, it adds up to something very big.