There are at least five things you can do online to help others. If donating money was the first thing that came to your mind, you’ll be surprised to learn that none of these suggestions will tap your wallet.
1. Help feed hungry people around the world by playing a vocabulary game at FreeRice.com. Direct benefit to you: an expanded vocabulary, which can have a positive effect in other areas of your life.
2. Educate women about heart disease and stroke by participating in the Go Red for Women campaign by the American Heart Association. Direct benefit to you: the potential to save your life, or the life of a woman you love.
3. Help feed dogs and cats in shelters around the U.S. by answering trivia questions at FreeKibble.com and FreeKibbleKat.com. Direct benefit to you: acquisition of interesting facts about different breeds of cats and dogs.
4. Volunteer to help out with your favorite online forum, email group, or chat site. If you’re a writer, share your expertise and experience at Absolute Write Water Cooler. If you’re interested in genealogy, Genealogy Trails is looking for assistance to help expand their free online data resources. Direct benefit to you: “meeting” new people and developing friendships around the world.
5. Use your favorite social networking tool or instant messaging program (mine is Trillian) to send encouragement to someone who is struggling with a problem of some kind. When Life hands you lemons, it’s great to know that you have support while you’re trying to make lemonade. Direct benefit to you: that irreplaceable, warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from just doing something nice for someone else.
