Giving Tuesday Ideas

After Black Friday and CyberMonday, we’re all a little spent (no pun!) Renew your spirit by taking part in Giving Tuesday on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Join the #GivingTuesday movement at GivingTuesday.org and be part of an effort to make the world a better place by using these five simple ideas:

1. Give From Your Heart: Often we give to causes because we’ve always supported them, or they are central to our community. On #GivingTuesday, try making a donation to a new cause that has captured your attention. It doesn’t have to be a big donation to have a big impact!

2.Give Your Stuff: Giving Tuesday can be the perfect opportunity to clean out your pantry or closet. Take non-perishable canned goods to the local food bank. Look for gently worn coats, blankets, hats, and scarves and take them to a local homeless shelter. This is the perfect time to model giving for your children –search through their outgrown toys and clothes and set aside those in great shape to give through organizations that set up families in new homes, or give new items to a local toy drive or giving tree.

3.Give Your Time: Volunteer! Add your helping hands through an organization that does direct service such as a soup kitchen, a park clean-up crew, or a meal delivery service for shut-ins. See a need, fill a need --coordinate your own service project with family and friends to walk dogs for the animal shelter, knit hats for the homeless, or help elderly neighbors run errands. Your time can make all the difference! Bonus tip: Use SignUp.com's free online SignUp sheets and volunteer calendars to coordinate service projects, toy drives, nonprofit volunteers, you name it! Learn more >

4.Give Your Voice: Giving Tuesday is largely driven by people sharing how they are giving back on social media.  Follow hashtags #GivingTuesday and #unselfie on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to help spread the word. Don’t forget to post your own pictures and reflections on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday!

5. Just Give: If this year’s Giving Tuesday doesn’t find you in a position to give formally, remember that even something as small as a genuine smile or holding the door for someone can have a ripple effect of kindness.