A few years ago I was big into cancer research. Sure, there was a personal reason, but that is not important for this discussion. Aside from inviting myself into the Pitt Medical Library and performing my own research (I wasn't able to check out books since I wasn't a student but I could read them there), I found a couple other ways to help. The local Hillman Cancer Center, a place that redefines patient care as getting first-class service at a 5-star hotel - every visit, had a program where volunteers could assist in actual lab research. This was a true divergence from traditional hospital volunteer roles, and as a lifelong geek, one that I could not pass up.
Another way I found to help was actually through the internet. I discovered Cancer Research - UK and they were looking for people to join their discussion forums online and help brainstorm creative ways to develop their program, streamline research, and raise funds. So I joined. I think I was the only US person in the forum, but it was great to join the discussions, contribute some ideas, and also just generally add some cool, interesting, and likewise motivated people to my social circle. Unfortunately, the discussions eventually tapered off and the last I checked, while the group is still active, the online volunteering aspect of their non-profit is no longer advertised. But thankfully, I just learned of another forum that promotes many more online volunteerism opportunities.
Sparked.com touts itself as an online matchmaker between volunteers with various skills (computer, design, grant writing, fundraising, etc.) with organizations, small and large, that have a need. I haven't signed up yet, but I am looking to in the near future, since really, if you have the time and are just wasting it away surfing the net anyway, why not validate your curious adventures by helping somebody out? It actually sounds a lot like a Craigslist forum where you explain to people why their messages were removed, except this example of touting your knowledge and skill can be met with warm gratitude and not hate mail.
Another noteworthy online volunteer site, just now discovered the same way I found Cancer Research - UK a few years ago (by Googling the key words), is the United Nation Volunteer's OnlineVolunteering.org. They, too, seem to offer a lot of the same opportunities that Sparked does, including writing and editing, design, translation, project development, and consulting. And luckily, I just now see, they also welcome people looking to help out with research, well.
While there are likely several other worthy volunteer programs online, the point is simply don't let your physical location, timing, or lack of people skills get in the way of volunteering. This avenue actually opens a whole new world of community service, since people that may not have otherwise come together in the same fashion in the past to keep a worthy program alive, can now, at their leisure and on their own time, contribute to something positive. Just think, of all the resolutions you may have made, to eat right, exercise, or get more involved in the community, this is pretty much the only thing you can accommodate by just doing what you always do - sitting in front of the computer. Plus, if you are helping somebody out, you might even be able to use that as some justification for no longer watching your diet or jogging.
