With Before-Thanksgiving deals, Thanksgiving Day offers, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday competing for your attention comes another popular “day:” #GivingTuesday. Begun in 2012, #GivingTuesday a movement that celebrates giving and philanthropy.
According to GivingTuesday.org, 3.6 million gifts were made last year (an increase of 1.1 million gifts from 2017), raising more than $400 million online in a single day (up from $300 million in 2017). Of course, #GivingTuesday isn’t just about money. You can give back through your time and your expertise. GivingTuesday.org has a lot of suggestions for you, and below you’ll find a few ways you can give around Alabama:
Vineyard Family Services in Pelham works tirelessly to feed kids in need, promote responsible fatherhood, and help families in crisis. Through Parenting Plans, Vineyard helps divorced or never-married parents develop parenting plans that benefit the well-being and care for their children. The F.I.T. Dad program equips men to be successful fathers by supporting their families financially, morally, and emotionally. The BackPack Buddies program provides nutritious and easy-to-prepare food to children on the free meal program at their school so they continue to eat during long holiday breaks and weekends when school is not in session.
REV Birmingham is a revitalization and economic development non-profit that works to create more vibrant commercial districts in Birmingham. REV identifies historic business districts where its place-based approach will take root and empower communities to dream big. REV provides services for “yaysayers” who are working to improve their corner of the city, entrepreneurs, and developers who are investing in Birmingham’s historic fabric. And REV works to showcase the potential of underutilized spaces and promote Birmingham’s appeal to a wide range of audiences.
United Way Hands On seeks to connect people with organized and meaningful volunteer opportunities to bring about positive social change. United Way Hands On promotes multiple days of service throughout the year as well as connects volunteers with opportunities with other organizations.
A New Leash on Life has the lofty — but achievable! — goal of saving all of Alabama’s homeless animals by reducing the number of animals put down in shelters and by reducing the number of homeless pets on the streets in Alabama communities. In Huntsville, the humans working with A New Leash on Life have worked to raise the “live-release” rate to more than 90% -- compared to a rate that was less than 50% just a few years ago.
These are just a few ways you can get out and serve your community. To find other ideas, this helpful search tool at mightycause.com will help you filter nonprofit organizations based on location, cause, and type of need.
Together, we can make a difference in our communities and around our state.
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