After the adrenaline rush of Black Friday and the chillness of Cyber Monday, the best way to spend your hard-earned holiday savings is to donate on Giving Tuesday. This global holiday was started in 2012 as a movement to celebrate the generosity of mankind and was created by the Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact at the 92nd Street Y cultural center in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. It occurs on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which is Nov. 28 this year.
According to the Giving Tuesday website, this holiday brings together the collective power of a unique blend of partners, such as non-profits, civic organizations, businesses and corporations to encourage and amplify small acts of kindness. Two years ago, in 2015, Giving Tuesday raised a total of 177 million dollars online and 1.64 million dollars in gifts.
Courtesy: Giving Tuesday
Some participating organizations of #GivingTuesday include:
1. 4 Paws Animal Rescue
This organization specializes in the rescue and placement of abused, unwanted and abandoned companion animals. They never discriminate on the health, age or breed of the animal. All animals available for adoption are examined, vaccinated, spayed or neutered and receive any and all medical treatment.
2. 2-1-1 Big Bend
This is a 24-hour human services helpline which can provide emotional support, crisis counseling, suicide prevention and information. These services are free for those who call; it’s confidential and anonymous. This organization is located in Tallahassee, Fla., which is another reason to choose this one to donate too!
3. A Chance Through Literacy
Their mission is to create a more equitable world by providing access to quality education, supporting the acquisition and use of culturally relevant resources and creating spaces for literacy to flourish for women and children in war-torn and poverty-stricken areas.
4. 10 Thousand Windows
This amazing organization equips human trafficking survivors (including sex, and labor trafficking), rape, and domestic violence survivors with the educational skills and long-term jobs they need to stay safe and free.
If you couldn’t think of anything better to do on your Tuesday, giving back is definitely the way to go. There are also other ways to give back (though they won’t be noted by the Giving Tuesday Headquarters) such as using smile.amazon.com which gives a portion of their profits to a participating charity. You can also donate your time if you’re short on cash by volunteering around your neighborhood. In addition, if you don’t feel comfortable giving money, you can also give your services (if you’re a lawyer, for example, you can give pro bono services), or you can give materials (such as building materials to a local Habitat for Humanity, or canned food to your homeless shelter). Just remember, that every little bit helps and there are some really deserving people out there.