By Melanie Richards
There are many excuses why we don’t help others as much as we should: “I’m too busy.” “I don’t have any money.” “I don’t know where to start.” Luckily, the Internet offers quick and free ways to lend a hand. Next time you’re bored or have a few spare minutes, try out these steps to increasing your altruistic impact on the web.
Daily clicks
At www.thehungersite.com, you can click daily on a banner that fuels anti-hunger funding via ad sponsors. Each click generates enough money for 1.1 cups of food. There are also banners on the site for breast cancer, child health, child literacy, rainforest conservation and animal rescue, all of which can be clicked once daily. The results page for each section of the site offers more information on how the daily clicks are helping.
Gaming for good
On www.freerice.org, you can quiz yourself on English vocabulary, foreign languages, geography, art history, science and basic math. Each correct answer generates funding for 10 grains of rice (again through ad sponsors). Though it takes a long time to generate enough rice to feed the impoverished, this is a good way to pass time when bored, and the impact increases with the number of users. You can also print out a letter to President Obama, urging him to support foreign aid to the impoverished.
Transform your Internet searches
Many search engines donate money from ad sponsors; the more they are used, the more money is donated to charities. www.searchkindly.com is powered by Google, donates 100% of revenue, and uploads scanned checks as proof of donation. www.theenvironmentsite.org is powered by Mirago and benefits the Surrey Wildlife Trust. www.goodsearch.com is powered by Yahoo, and though it donates only 50% of revenue, this still amounts to at least one cent per search. Plus, with GoodSearch, you can designate your charity of choice from a lengthy list.
Sign petitions
Lend your electronic signature to petitions or send e-mails to officials on web sites, such as www.greenpeace.org, action.earthjustice.org or action.savedarfur.org.
Care2 has the widest scope of petitions and also includes “click to donate” opportunities, news updates and tips for “healthy and green living.” Using online petitions, Green Peace has recently reached several victories in the fight against Amazon deforestation; Nike, Bertin, and Timberland have agreed to stop buying leather from cattle ranges in Brazil.
Research non-profits
Thinking about getting involved with a charity? www.charitynavigator.org provides ratings and extensive information on various charities. No matter what your passion is, there is a way to promote peace, sustainability and the welfare of all living things.
Empower the impoverished
www.kiva.org has made it much easier to teach a man to fish. Through Kiva, you can loan $25 plus to entrepreneurs in impoverished areas. These loans help individuals or groups develop small businesses ranging from agriculture to retail to the arts. Most of the loans are low-risk, but donors should consider their loans “donations” as Kiva does not guarantee repayment by the field partners through which loans are made and repaid. So far, I have been credited back $23.43 of my first $25 loaned, which I may withdraw or loan to a new entrepreneur as I wish. Consider making a micro-loan, which empower rather than belittle, as well as develop stronger economies.
Don’t stop there.
Free donation sites are only a beginning to the impact we can have on our world. If you would like to expand your impact, consider getting involved in local non-profits. See the Civic Media Center (433 S. Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601)
Tags: charity • Hunger • non-profits • online charities • petitions • poverty