We all know about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but not everyone knows about #GivingTuesday, a campaign that kicked off in 2012 to promote a day of giving around the consumerism-focused holidays. That year, #Giving Tuesday (which is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving) inspired $10 million in online donations. This year, the campaign has gone global. It’s about non-profits, businesses, families and students coming together in a united movement of philanthropy.
Here are 5 ways you and your family can give on #GivingTuesday.
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Play a Game
Did you know there are online games that combine fun, education and philanthropy? One called Free Rice tests your vocabulary in quizzes; for every five you get right, the organization donates 50 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. My Green Games offers a selection of kids games (categories include animals, sports, TV shows) and plants a tree in Peru for every 1,000 games played on their site. Search online for more giving game options.
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Create a Collection
Go on a treasure hunt around the house for unused items that might benefit a needy family: winter coats and gloves, gently used toys, hygiene products, blankets, food, etc. Then donate the collection to your local Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army, food bank or other organization. The process will cause kids to consider what they have and what they don’t really need.
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Choose a Charity
As a family, we make a holiday gift to Heifer.org, which gets Sofie involved in choosing that year’s animal for a needy family. She asks lots of questions about the animal (why they need it; how its used), and it’s a gentle way of letting her know there are kids in the world who live very differently from the way she does. Go to charitynavigator.org or justgive.org to find an organization. Let your children do the choosing.
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Give Time
Volunteering is an engaged way of giving back. Head to Volunteer Match for a listing of opportunities in your area. You can choose your area of interest (environment, animals, education, etc…) and make a family event of donating your time.
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Be Pick-y
Pick up trash from public space in your community. Pick fresh flowers and bring them to a local senior center. Pick a soldier to send a thank-you letter to. Pick up the scissors and cut out those food item box tops to give money to your school. Pick something to feel good about.
This post is featured on Simply Natural Saturdays, Thank Goodness It’s Monday and Natural Living Mondays.
