Have you ever wondered how you could be more effective in helping those around you? Perhaps you’ve imagined yourself serving food at a homeless shelter or mentoring an at risk youth. Sometimes it seems as though there isn’t enough time or resources to really give the best of ourselves to the communities around us that need our help. Fortunately technology has opened up our options for how we give back to our communities.

We are now seeing previously unimaginable ways to help those around us who are experiencing difficult times. Many of the old ways of helping those around us still exist with some technological upgrades. Thanks to the internet there are ways for you to become an active part of a cause in your community and still maintain a work life balance.

1. Online Fundraiser

Maybe your neighbor had an unexpected death in their family or you know of a household that cannot afford their weekly groceries? You can easily start a fundraiser using several different sites including GoFundMe. No longer are the less known and obscure adverse circumstances unreachable. This method has become extremely popular and personal social media account are often used to leverage the funds needed.

2. YouTube Educational & Informational Channel

If there is a social cause that you have a bit of a background in that can benefit a larger audience start a YouTube channel! Maybe you’ve got an Education master’s degree and want to see school funding increase in your city? Tell everybody about what you know and get the word out about what’s going in your community.

3. Using Our Talent Both In Real Life and Virtually

Many of us have talents that can be put to good use. Some are gifted writers, speakers, artist, and more. Whatever your talent may be, find an outlet for it online and use it to benefit those in your community. For instance, maybe you are a great painter and spend significant recreational time with your acrylics and canvas. Create a few pieces for auction on eBay and donate the proceeds to your community. In this way you will enjoy the time spent and also extend your talents for those around you.

4. Donation & Sale Pages

Many community yard sales and donation pages are popping up on Facebook. Several of the people who post on these sites donate items for free. Maybe you have a set of baby clothes that can benefit someone but don’t quite have enough times for a yard sale? Post them in your local community yard sale.

5. Project for Awesome

Project for Awesome is an online fundraiser that occurs online every December and is internationally known. Several fundraisers occur during this event and there is worldwide attention. Upload information about your communities needs and see if maybe you can catch the world’s attention to help out your community.

Thanks to the internet you can find creative ways to stretch yourself and give back to your community using some pretty simple and effective means. Start researching the ways that fit your community and personality and get ready to leave your mark today!