A holiday idea: pay it forward
For those of you sickened by the commercialism and resulting chaos of the holiday season, here's an idea to make you appreciate the holidays again: follow the concept of paying it forward. The concept is easy to understand: someone does you a favor, and instead of paying them back, they ask you to do something good for others. I'd like to ask TUAW readers to help take part in a "pay it forward" project. Let me start by telling you about my project this year.
In this case, I feel like the good people in the Denver metro area have done me a favor by helping my Mac consulting business, Raven Solutions, LLC, become a success. Earlier in the month, I received a phone call from a local non-profit called Art from Ashes wondering if I could provide some assistance with Marketcircle's Daylite application. After looking at the group's website and becoming aware of the healing work they do with at-risk youths through poetry therapy, I decided to donate my time as a way of giving back to the community.Visiting with the staff at Art from Ashes, it quickly became apparent that they needed additional licenses of Daylite to resolve some data sharing issues. Through the helpful staff at Marketcircle's Daylite Partner Program, I acquired the new licenses and I'll be returning to the Art from Ashes office soon to provide them with installation and training.
There was one more piece missing from the puzzle: a small server to host the Daylite database and provide a backup location for critical files. I have a Mac mini that I retired from Macminicolo.net last year, and it's the perfect size for a small team server. I'm donating it to Art from Ashes as well.
What I've found from this and other volunteer experiences over the years is that giving feels good! I'm hopeful that my work will allow Art from Ashes to expand their services and help even more young people. So what can you, TUAW reader, do to pay it forward?
It's as simple as doing something nice for someone else, and asking them to return the favor by helping someone else in turn. You can make a donation to Art from Ashes or offer to volunteer to help a group in your area. Since many of you are tech-savvy, use your Mac knowledge and skills to assist an individual or organization that needs your help.
Giving freely of your talent and time should be what Christmas is all about, not crushing someone in your blind rush to buy stuff. If you take me up on this challenge to help others, be sure to tell the rest of us about it in a comment. We all know the Apple community is filled with wonderful people; let's show it to the rest of the world.
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For those of you sickened by the commercialism and resulting chaos of the holiday season, here's an idea to make you appreciate the...
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Count me in. I'm at the other side of the pond. The idea is great, especially for the elderly to get in contact with their loved onesagain. They need help ... a circle of volunteering tchies is a great idea. "Techies without Borders" !
December 02 2008 at 1:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHaley Joel Osment would be proud. I totally agree with this idea.
December 02 2008 at 12:34 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIdealist.org has a section for tech volunteers, i believe.
check it out....
This is a wonderful idea, and I would love to volunteer my computer skills. I've done web programming, Windows, Linux and some Mac programming. I know Windows and Linux server administration. I'm currently working primarily on Cisco networking stuff. And obviously, I spend most of my free time tinkering on my multitude of Mac's. I've got a BS in CS and several certifications from Microsoft and Cisco. I'm sure my skill set could be useful to some non-profit out there who's goals align with mine. My problem is I just don't know where to look. I don't want to go out like I'm looking for a non-paying job. I don't want to go around trying to sell myself. But, I do want to be helpful. I'd love to teach basic computer skills, or advanced Java programming, or setup a new network. I'm not so picky on the subject, I just don't know where to start. How do you hook up with an organization that needs your help? Where do you begin? I've got some free time, and the inclination and the skill set to be useful. I just need to know where to start. I'd venture to say I'm not the only one. There's plenty of geeks out there with free time on their hands. There needs to be some easy way to connect those with the skills to those with the need.
December 01 2008 at 12:58 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYou know, maybe we need to start up a non-profit to link techie volunteers with other needy non-profits... I'd be willing to pay for the domain and provide hosting, maybe you could think about a way to create a database that non-profits could search on location, type of assistance, etc... and volunteers could enter their names and email addresses into.
I'll contact you offline.
TUAWSteve
This concept would make a great movie.
December 01 2008 at 12:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYeah, but make sure it doesn't star Kevin Spacey and Haley Joel Osment. That would ruin it... ;-)
TUAWSteve
I bought a new Macbook to replace a 2 year old iMac. Instead of selling the iMac I gave it to my neighbor. She's 78 living on Social Sec. and would never be able to buy a computer to communicate with her grandchildren. I'm also letting her leech my wi-fi for her net connection.
December 01 2008 at 12:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI'm uncomfortable tooting my own horn, but in the interest of keeping the vol-ball rolling, i recently started teaching basic computer skills (ie, this is a mouse, etc) to very fresh-off-the-boat refugees for an organization in NYC.
It has been pretty cool; surprisingly rewarding and mind-blowing with regards to how fast these skills can be picked up, especially the skills which many of us take for granted.
They always need more volunteers, so feel free to leave a comment or contact me.
zack
Zack -
Way to go, man! That is SO cool to hear that you're helping refugees make it in this country by giving them those computer skills that are in so much demand in our new economy. Who knows? One of those refugees might be the next Steve Jobs...
TUAWSteve
This is the spirit of being a "good neighbor," and the spirit on which America was founded on! We are the most generous nation on earth, and we need this attitude in order to keep our status. Please don't let this stop after the holidays are over!
count me in !!! I'm gonna offer my services....
December 01 2008 at 11:43 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIf you're in the Denver area, let me know and I can offer you the names of some organizations that need help!
TUAWSteve
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