‘Tis the Season to Give! Using Technology!
It seems like there may be a few issues encouraging people to adopt new technology. Perhaps it's a hesitation about using personally identifying objects, like a cell phone. Perhaps some folks agree that life is just dandy without all of those fancy schmancy web 2.0 upgrades. Perhaps some just resist because they want to resist. There are folks like myself too, who simply don't adopt out of ignorance.
Fortunately for those in the last category with me, I'm the type of person whose ears perk up at the mention of some new and interesting fact of life and wants to write about it.
As you all may know, if you've been paying attention, it's Christmas time. T - minus 15 days and counting to be exact. One of the problems I've come to face during this period over the last couple of years is the result of a credit based monetary system: I have no cash to give the bell ringers. It's much simpler for me to use my card and pay it off than worry about writing checks or getting cash from an ATM (which could cost me more money than I'm already spending). As I pick up my packages and head for the door, that familiar ring of the season hits me and I desperately check all ninety pockets in my coat and pants only to find (surprise!) I still have no solid cash on my being. I'm all about the Christmas charity and supporting the bell ringers. Recently I saw Coach Carter (the real one, not the movie, he's way shorter than Samuel L. Jackson...) and something he said struck me: "We are not human beings with a spiritual condition, we are spiritual beings with a human condition." I agree with that statement, and at Christmas time, of all times, it's important to remember that we are all in the same boat heading for the same destination. In the mean time, no one deserves to be left cold, hungry, and alone to die on the streets.
So, for those like me who want to contribute monetarily to a worthy cause this Christmas but find their pockets empty of bills, there is a solution. There is one hitch however: you'll have to get past your hesitation to use technology. There are two specific ways of donating that came to my attention on NPR last night as I was driving: Amazon gifts and Salvation Army texts.
Amazon wishlists, in the past, have been about making lists that your friends and family can access and purchase from. They still are, but now you have a new option: select a charity for your friends and family to donate to in your name. Don't ask me how to do it. I've tried, but Amazon hasn't made it an easy option to select (or even find for that matter). But it does exist! If I find out how, I'll let you know.
Texting the Salvation Army is the second option, but it's only in "beta" this year with Atlanta metro and certain Ohio districts participating. The cool thing about this option, however, is the ease and hopefully the spread. For those in the areas available (and hopefully nationwide in the future) all you have to do is text a certain code with "TSA" (the salvation army) and they will append a $5 charge onto your cell phone bill which goes directly to the Salvation Army. Now there's no excuse for having no bills. Atlanta's code is 90999, but I can't seem to locate a text code for the Columbus area (sorry!)