I also heard back from the city. I reported an automatic soap dispenser that was squirting soap onto the floor of a park restroom, and they've fixed it.
The world needs more heroes like you!
Lately I've been helping out a bipolar friend who was in a depressive state. We've been spending a lot of time talking and I was able to inspire him to make an app. Ever since he started on it he's been asking me for help and his mood has really turned around.
Ongoing emotional support for a friend is not such a small good deed! Even helping your friend find something to do besides spiral further into their depression is emotional support, and it may save a life or restore quality of life to someone who is suffering.
Reporting things that I find out of order in public places is partly self-serving. While some of the things I spot are merely unsightly or annoying, others are outright hazardous. Cracked pavement can trap a bike wheel, and uneven sidewalks are a tripping hazard. I once noticed a cover missing from a foot-deep (30cm) utility box in a sidewalk where people were walking. For that one, I went back to check and poked again when I found nothing had happened the first time. It got fixed soon after my second try prompted an escalation, with half a dozen city staff on the email chain. The cities around are usually pretty responsive, especially when it comes to obvious hazards, so I suspect they just missed the first report in that case.
I often walk or bike, which means I see more of our streets and sidewalks close up than most of my neighbors probably do, and I can safely and easily stop to take a photo of the problem. I've reported stuff before, so I know where to report to get the city's attention. It's nice to see potholes filled, leaks stopped, drains opened, and street lights working again. It's a small investment on my part for sometimes big results.
Anyone can do this kind of thing. Find out how to report things where you live (often an email address, app, or web form) and then keep your eyes open when you're out and about. Pro tip: potholes don't look like much, so try to frame your photo to include some of the surroundings, such as a building nearby, to help crews locate the problem when they arrive.