International Women’s Day isn’t just about giving a flower or chocolate to a woman you appreciate. Today (March 8) is a symbol of the struggles that women around the world have undergone to gain equality and a reminder of how far we need to go. Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to help celebrate this important day. For more information on what International Women’s Day is, click here.

Donate to a local women’s shelter. This can be anything from money to clothing or food to your time. Helping out a local women’s shelter or an organization fighting human trafficking, like The Family Place or New Friends New Life, helps to remind you about the difficulties women continue to face, as well as doing your part to help alleviate some of this suffering.

Help out a close female friend or family member. This can be anything from taking care of your friend’s children for the evening free of charge to doing all the housework for her. Consider making a pledge to continue helping her out throughout the year.

Mentor another woman. In order to achieve equality in the work force, women have to help other women. Take the time on International Women’s Day, or during any day, to mentor a female coworker from your job or similar industry. Take her out to lunch, talk to her about her career goals and offer her your wisdom. Mentoring is a great way to empower young women and a chance for older women to pass on their skills and life experience.

Teach your children about amazing women. Spending quality time with your children is the best possible way to celebrate International Women’s Day. Watch a film about Amelia Earhart or Margaret Thatcher, read a book by Jane Austen or Charlotte Brontë, or perform science experiments together and talk about the accomplishments of scientists like Marie Curie and Rosalind Franklin.

Tell a woman what she means to you. This could be your boss or a family member. Communicate why she is important and all that she contributes well. For instance, if it’s your boss, tell her why she’s a great boss and how much you’ve enjoyed working for her. A lot of the things that women do, especially women who are in charge, are scrutinized for every single thing they have done wrong or ignored entirely. Let’s empower and lift up those above us.

Thank the women in your life. Don’t just tell them why they are important, thank them for being there for you and for doing what they do. This could be as simple as thanking your mother for helping to raise you (You turned out well, right? 😉 ), or thanking a female friend for helping you out during tough times in your life.