When the U.S. screeched to a halt in March 2020 as a result of the pandemic, technology spared the world from a complete and total shutdown. From Zoom meetings to e-commerce to VR concerts, technology kept us connected and kept businesses running. We could continue taking workout classes via Instagram Live and Zoom, seeing our doctors face to face through video calls, and even hanging out together in virtual chat rooms. For those of us who live alone, it spared us from complete aloneness.
Given the reach technology has in every facet of our lives, and how central it’s been to our survival during Covid-19, Shondaland wanted to explore where tech is today, how we relate to it, where it’s headed, and the ways it will reshape our lives in the near future
The deluge of app options out there is definitely overwhelming — there are seemingly millions of them to choose from that might entertain us, help us organize our bills, or connect us to loved ones around the world. And while we’re all for a new game that lets us decompress for a bit or getting lost in the Calm app for some meditation time, with the devastating consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, and a vitally important upcoming election this November, it’s time we all think of ways to give back.
Technology: A Shondaland Series
Even though we might be confined to our homes for the foreseeable future, there are convenient ways to donate or volunteer right now, right from your smartphone.
Here’s a roundup of apps that’ll make helping others easier than ever.
1. Be My Eyes
Hans Jørgen Wiberg is a Danish furniture craftsman who has a hard time seeing. In order to help himself and many like him, he created an app that connects sighted people to those with vision issues. It’s simple: sign up for an account and when someone needs your help, you’ll receive a notification on your phone from someone in need of assistance. If you’re available to help, you’ll be connected with the low-vision or blind individual. They might need your help getting to or from a location, pointing out where a certain spice is in the kitchen, or some other everyday task. And don’t worry if you miss a notification — there are currently more than two million Be My Eyes volunteers.
2. Charity Miles
Now more than one person can benefit from your fitness routine. Charity Miles tracks how many miles you run, bike, or walk and then makes donations based on your movement thanks to Charity Miles’ corporate sponsorship fund, charities’ corporate sponsors, pledges and donations from friends and family, and even sponsorship from your employer through Charity Miles’ Employee Empowerment Program.
3. Donate a Photo
Johnson & Johnson created this app which makes donating to a worthy cause easier than ever: just pick a cause (curated by J&J with trusted non-profit organizations), snap a photo (selfies, food, sunsets — whatever) and share it on the app. Johnson & Johnson will then give $1 to your cause. To date over 5,118,386 photos have helped 257 causes.
4. Share the Meal
With 821 million undernourished people around the world, hunger is a battle many are still fighting, including people living in America. This app from The United Nations World Food Program is an initiative that helps children in need receive a meal for as little as 80 cents. Simply download it to your phone, share a meal with a child in need, The United Nations World Food Programme provides the meals, and you’ll see how far your donation goes.
5. DEED
DEED is your one-stop shop for anything volunteering or donating. The app aggregates opportunities and initiatives asking for donations or volunteers — you just pick which one peaks your passion. DEED easily organizes them all, and they even have special sections on their app that specifically address Covid-19, systemic racism, and various foundations that are working towards a more equitable future.
6. inLieu
Founded by Kathy Terry after she forgot to purchase a gift for a hostess, Terry thought this would be a perfect opportunity to make a meaningful donation to the hostess’s favorite nonprofit. So, rather than giving tangible gifts, inLieu was created to send donations easily to pretty much any charity on behalf of friends, family members, coworkers, etc. You can donate yourself if you feel like it!
7. NewDay Impact Investing
This innovative app allows you to invest in worthy causes across the world. Since not everyone is a financial expert, NewDay has created specific “portfolios” with specific strategies to make it easy to invest in companies that target issues like climate change, ocean health, and gender equality.
8. Roundup App
This app allows you to use leftover change from everyday purchases for good. Just choose from the app’s 900,000 nonprofits, safely link your credit or debit card, and RoundUp Ap will tally the total change of your transactions at the end of the month and send a deposit directly to the selected nonprofit. If you’re on a budget, you can set a cap on your donations to avoid overspending.
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