In with the new, out with the old. With the seasons changing and the holidays just around the corner, people find the Christmas spirit drawing them to give back. Giving back looks quote different as of late, as tools like GoFundMe and Twitter have changed the way in which people give back. I personally hit up the soup kitchens and rock my hairnet during the weekend with my family, knowing every person that comes through the door is greeted with a smile and a warm meal, leaving with new friend and a full stomach.

I know that not all people are comfortable enough to stand on the serving floor and greet people, but even helping in the back cooking the food and making the plates holds a certain personal sentiment. Once all the people have left the dining room, you can help clean and prepare for a dinner rush or for the meals the next day. Some might prefer just donating money through a GoFundMe. There is nothing wrong with this, as donating in any form is significant.

Does this hold the same meaning, though? Where is the smile, the conversation, the feeling you just made someone’s day by simply being with them and giving them your time?

My church goes to a soup kitchen every other weekend and it is rewarding to sit and talk to someone about their day and what they plan on doing in the future. In a generation that has lost their ability to hold meaningful conversation, taking an hour or two to lend your ear is an easy way to practice active listening and compassion. These people need someone to vent to or show a friendly heart. Not only are they getting a hot meal, but they are getting company that they would not normally get.

People love to talk about themselves, but they love it even more when there is someone who is listening to them. After a couple of days working in a soup kitchen, you start to see familiar faces and continue conversations started previously. This is how trust is earned and relationships are formed.

Soup kitchens are not the only way to get out in your community, as the ways to get out and give back are seemingly endless. You can clean up neighborhoods or buy gifts for families in need.

People may be able to donate money virtually or send gifts to hospital patients with the click of a button, but there is nothing that can replace the feeling that donating your time and presence to those in need. One of the only things robots and e-everything cannot take the place of is mere human kindness.

Nothing is better than the feeling of giving back: the satisfaction of knowing you made a tangible difference in the world for someone who needs it more than you.

Giving back has taken many different forms over the years, mostly in the form of giving food, clothing, and other aid to the homeless. When you think of charity work and club community service, that’s what you think of.

But we can do better.

With the help of the Internet we are finally able to make a cause go viral. Crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe, Snap-Raise, and Fundly are designed to allow anyone to donate to any cause. This allows for an unprecedented way to share a cause, raise awareness, and reach goals in a way that can be fast and global. The only drawback to such sites is the small fee charged after the fundraiser ends, typically around three percent of the total, along with a fee of less than a dollar for each donation you receive.

The potential is there! With the help of email, text messaging, and social media shares, online fundraisers have been known to raise an excess of $30 thousand in the matter of a few short weeks.

Sure, crowdfunding isn’t the only way to go. There are non-profit organizations like Feed My Starving Children or traditional monetary donations like those sponsored by the Salvation Army. Don’t get me wrong: passing out food to the less fortunate  in person is not bad, but perhaps uninnovative. People simply cannot find time to volunteer like they used to, leaving soup kitchens scrambling for volunteers.

It’s just not the same anymore. Technology has proven itself to be the flexible and effective method of raising awareness and funds fast, fitting for the evolving world. The time commitment or inability to commit due to conflicting schedules is virtually eliminated, with one needing a mere minute to PayPal money to a donation page.

Donating online to a charity or nonprofit of your choice gives peace of mind in showing where your money goes and how it impacts your community or abroad. Being able to choose what pages host causes close to your heart make it personal and transparent. The future is here and giving back has never looked better than it does paired with technology.