Pictured: The Salvation Army, whose Red Kettle Campaign is underway in Hancock County, has secured a donor match that will double contributions made on Giving Tuesday.
Daily Reporter photo
HANCOCK COUNTY — Bargain hunters might consider saving back a little money this holiday shopping weekend to do a bit of good.
Giving Tuesday is Nov. 30.
The traditional day of giving falls in line with Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday in the days following Thanksgiving.
“Giving Tuesday provides a great opportunity to reset from the Black Friday madness,” said Jill Null, a coordinator for the Salvation Army of Hancock County.
The movement was launched in 2012 by New Yorker Henry Timms, who wanted to establish a day that encourages people to simply do good. The initiative, co-founded by the United Nations Foundation, quickly spread via social media with the hashtag #GivingTuesday.
According to givingtuesday.org, “GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity around the world…. Over the past nine years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate and celebrate generosity.”
Hancock County nonprofits take advantage of Giving Tuesday’s marketing power, with many hosting special giving initiatives that support various causes close to home.
“Giving Tuesday is a great opportunity for our community to show the true colors of Hancock County,” said Brandon Ford, who helps run God’s Open Arms Ministry in Greenfield.
On Tuesday, the nonprofit will be collecting cold-weather essentials like blankets, coats, socks, gloves, hats and boots, as well as personal hygiene items, flashlights and batteries, which will be distributed to the homeless and others who endure the elements in the winter months.
Ford said the attention around Giving Tuesday is a great marketing tool for nonprofits looking to boost their donations, especially around the holidays.
“God’s Open Arms is blessed to have great community support year-round, but Giving Tuesday offers additional blessings,” he said.
Debra Weber, executive director of Love in the Name of Christ of Hancock County (Love INC), said the global giving initiative is a great way to shine the spotlight on charitable organizations both around the world and close to home.
“Giving Tuesday is an excellent time for us (at Love INC) to highlight accomplishments this year and look forward to the next. It’s a time to celebrate the importance of giving and how those gifts have benefited Hancock County,” she said.
“Fundraising is crucial to all nonprofits, and Giving Tuesday provides a platform to engage current and potential donors.”
Many nonprofits choose Giving Tuesday as the time to highlight or kick off annual giving campaigns or offer special donor incentives.
At Love INC, those who give to the Loaves and Fishes Campaign can have their gifts matched, up to a total of $5,000, thanks to the Wortman Family Donor-Advised Fund.
The Salvation Army of Hancock County has also secured a donor match that will double all funds deposited at the red kettles outside of the Greenfield Kroger and Walmart stores on Tuesday.
Sister Cities of Greenfield is also tapping into Giving Tuesday to raise money for its organization, which supports the program linking Greenfield and Kakuda, Japan.
“Sister Cities will be using your donations to purchase more lanterns for the Pennsy Trail (gazebo) location. This can only be possible with the help of our generous community,” said Molly Diskey, a Sister Cities volunteer.
Zoey’s Place, a child advocacy center in Greenfield, is also promoting Giving Tuesday this year.
“Due to being in operations less than a year, it’s not a huge focus this year, but we are hoping to continue to grow the importance of Giving Tuesday to highlight our nonprofit and the importance of what we do,” said executive director Crystal Wiley.
Giving Tuesday is a competitive time for nonprofits, she said, with all of them competing for the same charitable dollars each year, but it’s a great way to shine the light on noble causes throughout each community.
“We are a young organization competing for donations with other important causes at the same time, on the same day, not just locally but statewide and nationwide… but, every little bit counts,” Wiley said.
At the Greenfield-Central School Foundation, organizers celebrate a twist on the traditional Giving Tuesday concept by promoting Gratitude Tuesday.
“Instead of asking for money. we show gratitude to our donors who have supported us throughout the year,” said the foundation’s executive director, Ginny Brown.
“We are humbled by our donors’ expression of support for our work throughout the year… assuring that a quality education is available to every child in our community. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to tell our donors how thankful we are for them,” she said.
How you can help
What: Giving Tuesday, which traditionally follows Thanksgiving
When: Tuesday, Nov. 30
Why: To encourage acts of kindness and charitable giving around the world
Website: GivingTuesday.org
Many nonprofits will have special promotions for the occasion. Look up your favorite organizations online to see whether they have matching grants available, which can increase the value of your gift.
