10 ways to be kind online

There's nothing quite like a little kindness to get you through the day. Spreading goodwill can create positive change not only in your community, but also around the world. Need a little inspiration? Here are 10 ways to practise virtual altruism -- and get in the spirit of giving.

1. Donate points
Got tons of club points and not sure what to do with them? Donate -- and feel great. Many companies, such as Shoppers Drug Mart, Sears and HBC let you donate points online -- quickly, simply and securely. You choose which charity your points will benefit, and some companies will even match your contribution by converting points to cash. Some will also issue a tax receipt.

2. Practise e-mail etiquette
"Many of us use the fact that we're busy and stressed as an excuse to be lazy when it comes to online courtesy," says Lewena Bayer, one of Canada's leading etiquette experts. However, she says, digital etiquette is needed now more than ever. "E-mail is, quite often, the initial contact we have," she says. "We're sending a first impression."

According to Bayer, online etiquette is "all about showing care and consideration for the recipient." So keep your e-mails succinct, use proper grammar and sentence structure and include an honest subject line.

Nancy Flynn, executive director of the ePolicy Institute (an organization that implements employer e-mail, Internet and software policies) in Columbus, Ohio, shares these "netiquette" tips for work-related e-correspondence:
• Don't use e-mail to let off steam -- wait a day before sending a potentially damaging message
• Respect others' time -- don't forward recipes, jokes, ads, health warnings
• If you mistakenly receive someone else's e-mail, be kind by hitting Reply and explaining the mix-up to the sender.

3. Find volunteer opportunities
Want to help others, but don't know how to start? Go digital. Toronto-based editor Aileen Brabazon found her volunteer position on the Internet. "The web is such an incredible resource: it's a quick and simple way to find the right place to volunteer," says Brabazon. After finding a position that required shopping and reading mail for a visually impaired person on www.charityvillage.com, Brabazon used the Internet to learn more about the company she was interested in donating her time to. She then e-mailed the volunteer coordinator and started the volunteer ball rolling. You can do the same by visiting www.volunteer.ca and searching for your local volunteer centre, or check out www.idealist.com or www.charityguide.org for more volunteer opportunities.

4. Donate to your favourite charity
Recently, Torontonian Andrea Seaborn digitally donated money to four of her favourite charities. A virtual donation is "convenient, simple, hassle-free, secure and instant," she says. "It's also very satisfying for anyone who leads a busy life, but still wants to ensure giving is a part of it." Before donating money online, read the site's security claims. You can also look for a small lock icon in the bottom right corner of your screen or an "s" after the "http" in the site's URL. Both indicate that the site uses security features to protect your banking and credit card information against fraud.

5. Help save Mother Earth
You can give landfill sites a break when offloading your wares on www.freecycle.org. The Freecycle Network is an online community of people giving away -- and getting -- free stuff in their hometowns. Membership is free, and a local volunteer moderates each web group. So when you want to find a new home for something, whether it's a couch or golf clubs, send an e-mail and offer it up to members of your local Freecycle group.

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