Filed under: Holidays
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.
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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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Tjeerd X. said 11:43AM on 12-01-2008
count me in !!! I'm gonna offer my services....
Reply
Steven Sande said 2:25PM on 12-01-2008
If you're in the Denver area, let me know and I can offer you the names of some organizations that need help!
TUAWSteve
Jon said 11:54AM on 12-01-2008
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!
Reply
Steven Sande said 2:27PM on 12-01-2008
Jon - I couldn't have said it better. Back in the "old days" when somebody needed a barn built, all of the neighboring farmers pitched in to help build one, and the favor was returned. It's something that helped a lot of my ancestors "fresh off the boat" be able to thrive in the new country, and it's something that a lot of people have forgotten how to do.
TUAWSteve
Mentalsticks said 5:46PM on 12-01-2008
Wow - you even made christmas charity into an "America is better than the rest" thing. Moron.
If Americns are so good at charity that's because you guys need a lot of it as you're too greedy to pay enough taxes for benefits for sick and needy fellow Americans. With all that charity that made America so great, sick and poor Americans are still far far poorer than the poor in other wealthy countries. Imbecile.
Btw I fully support Steven's appeal.
(01) said 6:15PM on 12-01-2008
Well said. It's as simple as holding the door for someone at the office or saying "Thank you" to the bus driver/barista/cashier.
Jon said 4:22PM on 12-02-2008
Because in America, the "end does not justify the means." Giving should always be done freely as a conscience choice. And guess what, despite our lack of taxes on whatever you spouted off, we *still* are the most generous nation on the planet.
In conclusion, only a Marxist justifies taking by force from one group and giving to another "for the greater good of everyone."
mentalsticks said 5:38PM on 12-02-2008
@Jon:
My point was: why are you so adamant to repeat at every opportunity that your country is better than other countries? Even in this context of "being nice to others", "doing good", "being unselfish"? That nothing but moronic, navel-gazing chauvinism.
And BTW, about your "insult": I don't care if you call me a Marxist - partly because I'm not (far from it), and partly because I suspect you haven't the faintest idea what Marxism entails except that it's "what the enemy thinks".
Jon said 7:44PM on 12-02-2008
"why are you so adamant to repeat at every opportunity that your country is better than other countries? "
"except that it's "what the enemy thinks"."
Have you been following me around or something? You don't even know me or who I am! Please provide examples where I have been so adamant to repeat myself, because I must be sleepwalking.
But the better question is, why are you so adamant about correcting American's on their national pride?
zack said 11:58AM on 12-01-2008
I'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
Reply
Steven Sande said 2:29PM on 12-01-2008
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
Rubbinz said 12:15PM on 12-01-2008
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.
Reply
Steven Sande said 2:30PM on 12-01-2008
Rubbinz --
Excellent idea! A lot of seniors are on their own and separated from their families. This is a cool idea to give them a sense of connectedness. I applaud your willingness to share your Wi-Fi connection, too! Way to go!
TUAWSteve
SubGenius said 3:06PM on 12-01-2008
Bah Humbug.
Everyone over 65 is a leech if you ask me.
I have a simple solution to rising medical costs.
We should give everyone a one way ticket to heaven for their 65th birthday.
(01) said 6:17PM on 12-01-2008
Working for an organization that's attempting to get universal health care in the US, I find your viewpoint sad....and familar. Greedy insurance companies and a blind eye towards preventative health care in this country is what drives up health care costs, not seniors or sick people.
Rubbinz said 7:40PM on 12-01-2008
Steven,
Thanks. About 4 years ago when the wife and I got her grandmother hooked up with her first computer it really opened my mind. To see the joy it brings someone who's living away from grand and great grandkids discover how easy it is for them to have iChat and instant access to photos taken, it moved me. And as long as she's not workin' the pr0n torrents, she can all the WiFi she can eat. ;-)
CaptSaltyJack said 12:29PM on 12-01-2008
This concept would make a great movie.
Reply
Steven Sande said 2:46PM on 12-01-2008
Yeah, but make sure it doesn't star Kevin Spacey and Haley Joel Osment. That would ruin it... ;-)
TUAWSteve
Ahbe said 12:59PM on 12-01-2008
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.
Reply
Steven Sande said 2:34PM on 12-01-2008
You 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