By now it is no surprise that we can do incredible things using the internet. It almost seems like we could exist only interacting with the outside world through our devices (maybe that’s just the pandemic talking). From school to work, activities designed to be done face to face are evolving.
An example of an evolving practice is civil engagement. When people aren’t comfortable volunteering in a soup kitchen or hosting large fundraisers, how is civil engagement evolving? The good news is that many civically engaging institutions were already designed to be done solely online. An example of this is Change.org, an online petition platform. For years, people have created and signed petitions using this platform and it has affected real change. My personal favorites include the petitions that were successful in having Rojai Fentress and Ky Peterson released from prison. Thousands of supporters signed petitions and that right there is a beautiful example of civic engagement. There are thousands of petitions on change.org. There are also other petition platforms that serve a similar purpose. When looking for ways to do good using the internet, petitions are a good place to start.
If you’re looking to do more than lend your name to a movement, maybe you should try virtual volunteering. That’s right, we can take class and work full time jobs virtually, now we can volunteer that way too. There is a host of services that connect potential volunteers with organizations in need of help. Recently these platforms have grown to include virtual opportunities in their search filters. The United Nations is one of those organizations. They offer skill based opportunities in categories such as; writing and editing, art and design, translation, research, and technology development. If you have a skill, the UN can put you in a position to use it for good.
Points of Light is another great service that connects people and organizations searching for volunteers. A great part of their program is an expanded field of filters. They offer a wide variety of issue areas. Whereas the UN service is largely skill based and limited on numbers of opportunities, Points of Light features a long list of issues that individuals can devote time and energy to. Points of Light also has a skills and interest based filters system as well as location based searching. If you are looking to volunteer in your community this is a great place to start.
Another great volunteer opportunity finding platform is Do Something. This platform is not as broad as Points of Light, but it still features some important causes that are in need of action.
This service is much more focused on the individual’s interest than the location or skills needed to participate. In fact this platform only takes into account the cause, the type of action, and the time you are looking to spend on the project. You can find ways to help a social cause you care about in as little as 30 minutes or as many as 3 hours.
If you don’t have the time and/or energy to volunteer virtually or physically, another easy way to be civically engaged (besides petition signing) is finding and donating to non profit organizations that are already fighting the good fight. Either devote some time to searching for organizations that you support, or use a platform that connects organizations and potential donors. An example of one of those platforms is Great Nonprofits. This website features thousands of organizations and includes biographical summaries as well as reviews. They make it easy to find and support those who are working to support others.
As I mentioned in one of my previous blogs, my family runs a non profit organization, Purple Pantry Boxes. We are always looking for donations wether they be monetary or physical. Our monetary donations come in large part from Venmo donations. Feel free to send us any amount of money you can @purplepantryboxes; a little goes a long way. We also accept physical donations of non perishable food items. We have had individuals send us boxes from stores when they aren’t able to attend an in person donation event.
Also, if like me, you’ve browsed Change.org and thought “I really don’t care about this”, then find something you do care about and look for petitions that support it. For example, I support Black Lives Matter and racial equality. With a simple google search of “petitions that support BLM” I was able to find some great petitions to lend my support.
The wonderful thing about the internet is that all of these services are just a few clicks away. Another great thing is that no matter which of the above mentioned platforms you end up using, you can amplify your civic engagement by sharing what you’ve done on social media. Post on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or whatever the kids are on nowadays and let people know about that amazing petition you signed. Allow your philanthropy to light a fire under your peers (the gentle warm kind of fire that brings comfort to those who need it).