The BOSS Blog

From giving gifts to giving time, there are many ways to help the needy.

Whether you’re looking to spice up your volunteer schedule, or just want to find a more unique way to give back, this new series, "Cool Ways to Help the Needy," should get the ball rolling.

And as always, let me know if there’s anything I should add to the list! Helping a fellow blogger is also a great way to be a BOSS :D

1. Invite a homeless person in to share Sabbath dinner with you and your family.

Or if you’re non-religious, just choose one night per week for the ritual. Food pantries nowadays are overwhelmed, and SNAP (food stamps) has been cut so severely that many people are going hungry. So if you can afford one extra meal per week (or several, for a family) then host the hungry! You can even use this night as an excuse to learn new recipes.

Sometimes, it's hard to be a good person.

And no, I don't mean that ironically, or to say, "oh poor me, I'm the lone bastion of kindness and you all suck!" Really, that's not what I mean.

I'm young and looking for a job that has a heart. However, many of the jobs in which I'd actually be helping people--such as in the non-profit sector and advocacy--pay absolutely nothing. And I don't think that's fair. I don't have the money for that.

If my goal was to be a CEO that underpaid employees, I'd earn so much money. I'd be revered by people because of my wealth and power, and have life at my fingertips.

Instead, I'll be lucky if I can afford to live in a safe area and eat actual fresh produce. And people think I'm a "bleeding heart". So I'm just wondering if doing a good-person job will lead to a bad life.

There was a book published a couple of years ago that claimed that bitches score the good guys. All I can say to that is: 1. ew, and 2. sometimes that's what it feels like. And I'm not just applying this viewpoint to dating: it's tough to stand up for what's right.

Has anyone else had this issue?

So I guess my question is this: why bother being good? Why not be that beloved CEO?

My answer is this: I've tried working at places that produced possibly harmful products, and it made me unhappy. Really unhappy. But when I do volunteer work, I feel absolutely fulfilled. Being the good guy is the right thing to do, and at the end of the day, we'll be remembered for the good things we've done. We good guys will ultimately change the world. It's just a matter of time.

This past summer, I backpacked through Europe for three months…alone.

For three months, I depended on the kindness of strangers to carry me through, even couch surfing with a few friends I met along the way. Yes, that's right, this petite, two-by-nothing woman scared the daylights out of her family, traversing alien terrain--and survived.

(…and thrived. Europe is pretty awesome.)

My friends and family thought I was CRAZY. But from this experience I learned that the average person is absolutely lovely. In fact, this trip is one reason why I feel the need to shed some light on a huge problem: we don't trust each other.

Trust has been on a steep decline in the U.S. from 1972--when half of our citizens trusted each other--to now, when only one third of us trust each other. 

We are cynical, we can't play nice--because we're afraid to play nice--and some would argue that we're driven more by greed than by compassion.

Well…in a country where we're constantly afraid of terrorism, have to deal with some really corrupt higher-ups, and vengeance is seen as empowerment, it's no wonder we turn to our money rather than our fellow man.

And that's…depressing. It's really, truly depressing. Many scholars believe that this cynicism is going to lead to many major problems. I won't go into all of them in this post. But what I would like to say is this: do we really want to live in a world where we're afraid of each other? What ever happened to letting the kids play outside with the neighbors on their own until dinner? Or not having to sign hundreds of pages of contracts so we won't end up in some lawsuit rampage from a B-reel crime show? What happened to love, compassion, and relationships?

Many scholars believe that this level of distrust is nearly irreversible by the time we're in our mid-twenties. Call me a cock-eyed optimist, but I think each of us is capable of reversing these trends.

Apparently, the best way to build trust for each other involves socializing more. Yup, that's right: this horrible problem has a pretty fun solution. Civic and community engagement is key. So, get together with some neighbors and start a grass roots campaign, throw a fundraiser, or volunteer.

JUST LOVE EVERYONE. ALL THE TIME. FOR NO REASON. FOR EVERY REASON.

I know "Evening Rants" aren't nearly as exciting as "Late Night Rants," but I have something to say, so we'll make do.

First off, I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving (or Thanksgivvukah)! This is an awesome holiday and I hope everyone fully enjoys it.

Now for my rant. Walmart, Whole Foods, and a whole slew of other stores are slated to stay open on Thanksgiving day. This isn't right. Retail is not a necessary service that needs to operate during the holidays. Yes, hospitals and police stations need to stay open--shout out to these emergency responders, btw.

But WHAT IS OUR PROBLEM that we can't wait one extra day to not participate in consumerism? Not only is this selfish to the workers who are forced to go into work during the holidays, but this is also a pretty crummy way to skip out on family time.

There are only a few days a year when you're supposed to spend time with your family. That's sad enough. Buying that dress, or that extra pie, or, heck, those FUNKY BOOK ENDS doesn't have to happen RIGHT THIS INSTANT.

Please, don't shop during the holidays. And contact any nearby stores that stay open on holidays like Thanksgiving and tell them that THIS IS NOT OK. We are all entitled to happiness and family time (hopefully these two things go hand in hand). Even the poor cashiers deserve a turkey break.

For that special activist in your life, give the gift of charity this holiday season!

It's easier than you think. Here are some awesome places to start:

World Vision's Charity Gift Catalogue: Literally a catalogue of activist-friendly gifts, such as clean water, education, and emergency aid for people around the world who are in need.

GlobalGiving Gift Cards: For the giver who isn't entirely sure which cause to choose, these gift cards will allow your loved one to choose the cause closest to their heart.

Oxfam:  Oxfam is an organization that works to fight injustice and poverty. This one's a pretty safe bet. Plus, nothing beats being able to tell your pals that a school was partly established in your honor.

UNICEF: Always a classic, you can choose from a myriad of categories, including healthcare, maternal health, transportation and food.