Kate Hartnick Elliott, who runs a marketing, communications and executive search firm in New York City, lets people she knows use a spare desk, the Internet access and the printer in her office. She said it’s nice for people to have a place, other than Starbucks, to take a break between meetings.

LINKS Most people wouldn’t hesitate to make an introduction or two to anyone in need. But Amy Baker, who works in technology marketing in San Francisco, says that if you’ve ever been out of work yourself, you have almost a moral obligation to throw the rope back for others.

“One of the best pieces of advice I got was that you have to be talking to someone who’s been through it,” said Ms. Baker, who was unemployed for part of 2008. “As someone who’s been there, I have to reach out to people who are there now. I know how hard it is, and I know it will work out.”

Her list of ways she tries to help contains many good ideas, like signing up for unemployment before doing anything else and devoting part of each day to something you couldn’t do while working, like taking a nap or seeing a matinee. I’ve posted it in its entirety and linked to it from the version of this article at nytimes.com/yourmoney.

You can also help by taking a friend or former colleague to an industry gathering that they might not know of. Religious congregations are also ready-made communities that are predisposed toward service and good works. If you’re still employed, take the lead and start a networking group for those who aren’t. Or, you could reach out via the organization’s mailing list to solicit volunteers, say a local appraiser who can offer free appraisals to members in need who are trying to refinance their mortgages.

PATRONAGE Given the shortage of full-time positions, many people are setting up consulting practices or starting small businesses while continuing their job search. One way you can help is by becoming a customer.

This is what David Blackburn, who lives in Montclair, N.J., did for his friend and neighbor Josh Crandall. Mr. Crandall lost his information technology job at Morgan Stanley in November. At the time, he had a Web business on the side called The Clever Commute, which helps people who commute to New York City from the suburbs communicate with one another by e-mail about delays on buses and trains.