Want to participate in Giving Tuesday this year? Here are some easy ways to give back!
Want to give back this holiday season?
Thanksgiving is followed by several notable days. In addition to Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, there is a lesser-known national day called Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday, which will be celebrated this year on December 3, is a “global movement of generosity.”
It’s the perfect time to pause from the chaos of the holiday season and think about how you can serve your community. Through kindness and generosity, Giving Tuesday encourages us to do some good in the world, which we hope will lead to acts of service that extend beyond this day. The site offers countless ways to engage with your community and country, and the global movement includes several international countries as well.
From donating to food drives to supporting local charities and nonprofits, Giving Tuesday has endless options for participation, including ways to help from the comfort of your own home.
Many large companies also plan to share in the holiday spirit. Last year, brands like Sephora, Steve Madden, Chewy, Ulta Beauty, Patagonia, LL Bean, Lush, Old Navy, and Ralph Lauren participated in Giving Tuesday. I can’t wait to see who will be participating this year!
Don’t forget to look for #Giving Tuesday on social media to see how others are helping.
Here are 10 easy ways to get involved in Giving Tuesday 2024…
People affected by homelessness may struggle to access the necessities we take for granted every day. So a great way to give back is to make a blessing bag filled with snacks, deodorant, socks, and more. If you need ideas to get started, we have a whole post about what items we’ve used in the past.
If you are not distributing directly, consider contacting a local charity, church, or organization who would be kind enough to distribute on your behalf.
I think we’ll be seeing a lot of deliveries over the next month or so. Whether it’s a few flights a week or every day, delivery drivers from Amazon, UPS, USPS, FedEx, and more work around the clock during the holiday season to ensure your gifts arrive on time. .
At times like these, why not express a little gratitude? We have printable holiday (and year-round) messages to thank delivery drivers for their hard work. Along with the printables, I created a basket full of snacks and drinks as a little thank you. The reactions are always so heartwarming. What better time to start than with Giving Tuesday?
3. Support teachers by choosing to be a donor!
One of our readers, Cheryl, reached out to us and brought DonorsChoose.com to our attention. This great website helps teachers raise funds for school supplies and other classroom essentials. Every dollar counts to support these educators. If you’re interested, Donors Choice also offers monthly donations that can support a different cause each month.
We entrust the future of our youth to teachers, and often end up using our own money to purchase materials for use in the classroom. If there is anything we can do, we will do our best to support you! Plus, every dollar you donate is matched 50% to 100%, making it extremely valuable.
4. Play Santa with a family in need.
Each year, USPS hosts Operation Santa, inviting families in need to submit their holiday wish lists. You can adopt these letters and make your Christmas wishes come true. Operation Santa is currently underway, but there’s still time to register. Giving Tuesday is a great time to sign up. Your small act of kindness may give someone a lifetime of fond memories.
5. Consider donating blood.
If you’re not afraid of needles, donating blood is one of the best ways to give back. You may not realize how many people can be impacted and benefit from donating blood. They can save lives!
Many blood drives are advertised right outside the facility where they collect donations, but you can always find a drive near you on the Red Cross website.
6. Speak kind words!
You may not realize it now, but the power of kindness goes a long way. Whether it’s a simple smile or writing a kind message, this can change the trajectory of someone’s day in the best way. I love DIY Kindness Stones, which are great to make with your family.
7. Uplift the soldiers.
Many organizations are working to support the military. One of these organizations is “Operation Gratitude.” This renowned nonprofit organization has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and has been in operation for just over 20 years. Through them, you can also write thank you letters to soldiers and send care packages to them.
In addition to Operation Gratitude, there are several nonprofit retreats designed to provide free rest, relaxation, and healing to active duty soldiers, veterans, and their families. Please consider donating to one of these retreats or sharing the information with someone who may benefit.
8. Pay in advance!
Waiting in the drive-thru line? Consider paying not only for your own order, but also for the person behind you. There is no better feeling than being on the receiving end of this. Usually it starts a donation train followed by dozens of people.
9. Donate your old Lego toys to a children’s nonprofit.
In 2019, LEGO launched a new initiative called LEGO Replay. This program allows you to donate your old Lego blocks to children’s nonprofit organizations. All you have to do is box it up, print the free label, and send the bricks to LEGO. Since the program’s inception, more than 161,000 LEGO bricks have been donated and more than 485,000 children have received donated bricks.
10. Participate in food and clothing drives.
After Thanksgiving, you may have some canned food that you didn’t use. We’ve created a list of the best food items to donate. Consider checking your pantry, collecting these items, and donating them to a local shelter or food drive.
Similarly, when cleaning out your closet, never throw away those clothes. Clothing donations are always needed. Something as simple as stopping by Goodwill is a small way to make a big difference.
The list goes on!
There are posts about random acts of kindness, and it’s the perfect time to use them as inspiration for “Giving Tuesday.” The holiday season can be daunting, but days like this remind us of what’s really important. Even if you miss Tuesday, who’s to say you can’t try something gentle every day? ❤️
Check out Lina’s Pay It Forward Printable!
