Money makes the world go round. It’s annoying, but that’s the way it works. Sure, to get anywhere in life, you need to work hard and stay committed to your goals, but let’s face it: money helps to make big things happen in a timely fashion.

I’ve recently started canvassing for an organization that partners with non-profits to help them raise money. We stand out on the streets with tablets and try to get people to donate to Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

Many people stop. I’m amazed at their generosity. A homeless man gave me $2 – all he had, he wanted to give. A college freshman who had just moved here signed on to become a monthly sustainer. A teacher who was running to hand out flyers for a religious freedom rally stopped to give me $100. A woman who was “already giving all her time and money to the ACLU” gave me another large donation. Another woman who didn’t like Planned Parenthood “because of the abortions… but can get behind the cancer screenings and birth control” gave me $5. Giving is not always convenient, not always beneficial to you, but these people understand the urgency and the need.

Many people walk by. Sometimes they ignore me, but sometimes they call out, “I can’t – but I support you!”

Great, but… how? What does that mean? How are you supporting the organizations you believe in? Ask yourself this, and remember that simply posting articles on Facebook doesn’t cut it.

If you can’t donate your money, donate your time. After all, time is money.

I used to think that “raising awareness” helped a lot. That posting about issues I cared about or talking about them was going to change the world. And don’t get me wrong, it’s great to spread the world and share the knowledge. Whenever I canvass, someone asks me what Planned Parenthood is. Educating people is important, but just like with canvassing, the goal should be that they will donate their money to the cause, and if they can’t do that – maybe they will donate their time. If you aren’t doing either of those – you aren’t walking the walk.

I used to think I had no money. But now I realize, even if I’m a “broke college student” or “in-between jobs” or “should really be saving up” I always find money somehow. You have money for what you prioritize. I can say I wish I could help these foundations and causes that are in need, but I can’t right now… and yet I still have money to go out to eat, to buy new clothes that I don’t need, to spend on some dumb little impulse buy that I will laugh about once and then forget about. Could I have gone without that latte and donated $5 to the LGBTQ Task Force? Made dinner at home with the food I already had, saved $20 and given that money to the SPCA? Resisted that “great deal” on my 30^th pair of black leggings and instead given the $10 to Doctors Without Borders?

You may think you have no money, but you do. With everything going on in this country right now, there are so many non-profits that are struggling and trying to serve more people than ever. If everyone just gave a little, we could do a lot.

I know it's tacky to talk about money, but we have to do it if we want to be the social justice warriors that we claim to be on Facebook.

So my plea is this: find a cause you believe in. Do some research and see where the money goes. If you like where it goes, throw some of yours at it. If you’re truly unable to do that, throw yourself into it. Volunteer, use your talents. Your support keeps so many important causes afloat, but your support needs to go beyond your mentality in order to really make a difference.