“Another GoFundMe.” You wonder aloud if you should dip into your savings. “Donate money to Wikipedia!” You close the tab and eye your wallet warily. Luckily, there are ways to give to others without spending an arm, a leg, and a student loan. Here are 10.
Share a resource.
The next time that you’re caught in the rain, look around for a person who forgot their umbrella and
Teach a skill
Consider your skill set and ask yourself whether someone can benefit from learning the things in which you excel. Tutoring or mentoring a new person in your workplace and even showing someone around an unfamiliar location can be charitable.
Offer help
If you have been invited to someone’s house or if you want to help out in the comfort of your own, ask whether you can set the table, do the dishes, etc. Opportunities to help are everywhere. Doing something without being asked is especially polite.
Listen
There are many people who need to vent to someone or who need to be comforted. The next time that someone talks your ear off, take the time to listen. It improves their day and adds a good conversation to your own!
Give a compliment
Find someone to compliment and help them feel good about themselves. Bonus points if you find a genuine way to compliment a comment or trait of theirs rather than a physical attribute. For example: “Dan, that was an excellent point that you made in class. It was smart of you to bring it up.”
Gofundme/raising money
If you find a worthy cause that you can’t afford to donate to, consider starting a GoFundMe page to raise awareness. Another option is to use one of your talents to raise money. For example, running a 5K for a good cause will contribute to charity.
Jury duty
Because time is your most valuable commodity, giving your time to another person’s case is quite admirable. If you are an unbiased listener, giving hours of your day to contribute to our justice system is very charitable.
Career
The best way to choose your career is to consider what will both utilize your skills and contribute positively to society. This way, you can be doing some type of Tzedakah on a daily basis, feel good about your impact on the world, and be compensated for it at the same time.
Volunteer
Food pantries, animal rescue shelters, local libraries, and retirement homes can use the help of any willing volunteer. Suppose you are a passionate foodie– share your love for all things edible and help out at a kitchen that feeds the homeless.
Advice
Giving advice to a willing listener is gratifying in more ways than one. The person benefits from getting their question answered. Meanwhile, you have a hand in their decision and you get to feel useful. Your relationship with the person is strengthened.
Tzedakah can be difficult to give if you don’t have the financial resources just yet. By giving charity through your actions, you can still fulfill the commandment.
