Many charities will be highlighting their needs tomorrow and intensifying their efforts for the third annual #GivingTuesday.
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday are days that highlight the holiday shopping season as everyone rushes to get the best deal. On Tuesday, the focus turns to helping others.
According to the #GivingTuesday website, “It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. Join us and be a part of a global celebration of a new tradition of generosity.”
Organizations that help others know there is never a shortage of people in need. In fact, every year the number of people they serve seems to grow a little larger. For most of these organizations, their survival and ability to help others depends largely, and in many cases entirely, on people who donate.
#GivingTuesday was founded in 2012 by New York’s 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. According to the #GivingTuesday website, “Together, with a team of influencers and founding partners, we launched a global movement that has engaged over 10,000 organizations worldwide.”
The movement is still young, but it has grown every year, helped in large part through social media. More than 36,000 people have linked up with #GivingTuesday through Facebook and an additional 24,000 followers on Twitter.
Many non-profits are using social media to push their message out as well, and to remind people of the needs in their community.
In Carroll, it is hard to find a non-profit that doesn’t wish it had a little more to help a few more people. Sadly, too many people in our community continue to struggle.
We’ve just spent the past few days indulging in deal-finding and shopping. #GivingTuesday is a good reminder that the true meaning of the holidays is in giving back and helping others.
The founders have a lofty goal of #GivingTuesday being “a global celebration of a new tradition of generosity.” But the global success starts with the people in communities large and small who reach out to help others in their own back yard.
