Giving Tuesday: A Holiday Tradition of Giving Back
It’s tradition… gathering with family and friends around a good meal for Thanksgiving and then shopping for holiday gifts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. When all is said and done, there’s just one more thing left to do before we Deck the Halls… give back to the community for Giving Tuesday!
Giving Tuesday is December 3!
It is a global movement where individuals, organizations, and communities come together and support charitable causes, helping to foster a spirit of generosity during the holiday season. The holidays can be a time of both joy and stress, and by reaching out, we can help make life a little brighter for those who might be facing tough times.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as we approach Giving Tuesday:
- The recipe for success in life is different for everyone. While the ingredients that lead to success for one person may not work for another, we are all trying our best to get dinner on the table. From finances and health to family and beyond, life presents its share of challenges and stressors for us all. We all navigate the stages of life as unique individuals with our own strengths and weaknesses. We journey at different paces, on many paths full of our own opportunity and hurdles, and with varying resources and knowledge at hand.
- The more we learn, the more we realize our commonalities. While our journeys may all be a little different, there is no shortage of milestones, emotions, and experiences that we can understand and relate to with our fellow humans. There is often more to a person than meets the eye. Digging deep and taking time to recognize where another person is coming from helps our compassion for others bloom as we find more and more things in common.
- Kindness has many forms and doesn’t have to be complicated. As we reflect on our own blessings this season, remember that small acts of kindness can have a profound impact. Whether it’s volunteering your time, donating resources, or simply sharing a smile, there are countless ways to contribute to the well-being of those around us and build a stronger community. Give your time to get to know someone or another culture, involve young family members, share a note of appreciation with a coworker or service worker, invite someone to coffee, engage your friends in a group project, or help someone with a challenging task... the options are endless.
- Giving Tuesday is one day, but community need is year-round. In the spirit of giving, let's challenge ourselves to not only give on Giving Tuesday, but to carry that generosity forward into the new year.
Consider how you might carry on or add the annual tradition of Giving Tuesday this year to your holiday plans. Let’s create a ripple effect of goodwill that lasts far beyond the holiday season.
Jennifer J., Mission Advancement Administrator
At the end of November and leading up to Giving Tuesday on December 3, we’re playing BINGO at the Y! Keep your eye out in our lobbies, social media, and donor email for more details.