3 Ways To Help America (and Maybe the World) That Cost Only a Few Bucks

But it’s totally worth it.

I recently wrote an article entitled “3 Ways To Help America (and Maybe the World) That Won’t Cost a Dime.” It was a good piece, but in thinking about the topic further, I wondered, what kind of change can we do for only a few bucks?

I mean, individually, it may not seem like much. But if we’ve learned anything over the past month, as a group, we can do pretty much anything.

We’re trying to move society forward here. We’re looking for justice and equal treatment under the law. While it may seem like we’re making advances… sustained change is always a question. The more we can help those on the front lines in fighting for our future, the better off we will all be.

Here are three ways we can help out that may cost a few dollars but are totally worth it.

Boycotts work

Whether it’s public transportation, clothing store chains, or supermarket products, boycotts have proven to work time and again. When a company that supports or even actively engages in harmful behavior finds its bottom line affected, most are pretty quick to hear their consumers and respond by changing their ways.

What’s especially heartening right now is that it’s not just the consumers who are engaging in boycotts but also businesses themselves.

One of the things businesses learned in marketing to Generation Z is that they prefer to purchase from companies that share their same values. It’s in their best interest to align themselves with what the younger generations are passionate about. You find corporations dropping sponsorship and advertising from offensive or incendiary right-wing talk shows. You find makers of cereals and soups recognizing that families come in all forms. In turn, their advertising has become more inclusive and supportive of same-sex parents, interracial couples, and more.

There is probably no better example right now than watching huge corporations like Coca-Cola, Unilever, and Verizon pull ads from Facebook until they start fact-checking more and put a stop to hate speech. And yes, Facebook folded.

Money talks.

As an individual, you have the power to choose who gets the hard-earned money you spend. Yes, that often means paying a slightly higher price for something from a socially or environmentally responsible company. Still, it’s all for making the world a better place.

Put together enough individuals doing this, and you have some real momentum and power for change.

Check out BIPOC businesses

If you’re looking to be a useful ally to BIPOC (Black/Indigenous/People of Color), consider how you could do more business with those communities. If you want to help marginalized communities survive the current crises or contribute to a community’s economic and developmental health, put your money where it can do the most good. Help keep BIPOC-owned and operated businesses open.

This really doesn’t have to cost you any more money than you’re already spending elsewhere. It’s just shifting where you shop a bit. You may have to drive a few extra blocks, or order online from someone who doesn’t have a sweetheart deal with shipping companies.

That’s okay. It’s worth it.

All businesses deserve the same chance to thrive. You can do your part by seeing what BIPOC-owned enterprises have to offer.

The same goes for BIPOC individuals, whether freelancers, artists, gig workers, or whatever. Things are pretty challenging right now for everyone, but they’re exceptionally challenging for folks whose communities are often overlooked.

You can help change that.

Donate — it really does help

I really wish I could say that change is easy and cheap. Alas, it’s not. The vast majority of people working hard to make the world a better place are doing so for free (or, at best, a pittance). Everything else that goes into running a charity still costs money, such as electricity, communication, transportation, shelter, food, medical supplies, and more.

Most charitable websites allow you to donate as little as $5.

Every little bit helps.

Here are a few charities to consider donating to right now.

The National Bail Fund Network

This organization is made up of over sixty community bail and bond funds across the country. Their mission is to help people by paying bail/bond and fighting to abolish the money bail system and costs of pretrial detention.

Equal Justice Initiative

Founded in 1989, EJI is dedicated to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States. They set out to accomplish this by challenging racial and economic injustice and protecting fundamental human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.

It Gets Better Project

From their website: “The It Gets Better Project is a nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe. Growing up isn’t easy, especially when you are trying to affirm and assert your sexual orientation and/or gender identity. It can be a challenging and isolating process, but the good news is that no one has to do it alone.”

As always, research an organization yourself before donating. You might also wish to keep an eye open for businesses or individuals offering to match donations to specific charities. It’s a great way to double the help you’re giving.

It doesn’t take much to make a difference

Look, I’m not going to hit you with “For the cost of a cup of Starbucks coffee, you could change a life.” You already know that, and I’ve never felt particularly moved by that kind of guilt trip. Things are tough all over, and many of us can’t even shell out for Starbucks.

That’s okay. There are other ways to help make this a better world, and it doesn’t have to cost you a penny.

But if you can toss a couple of spare bucks to a charity or a business, please consider it. You may not see the payoff right away, but it every little bit helps in the end. You will have to take that on faith.

There are worse things to believe in.

Thank you for reading. I’d love to share more with you via my Bi-Weekly Word Roundup newsletter sent to subscribers every other Sunday. It will feature news, productivity tips, life hacks, and links to top stories making the rounds on the Internet. You can unsubscribe at any time!