On Tuesday, the Golden Belt Community Foundation and numerous local organizations will join #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving. Occurring this year on Dec. 1, #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday to kick-off the holiday giving season and inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in ways to the charities and causes they support.
In the United States, #GivingTuesday was started by the 92nd Street Y in New York City.
This refers to what organizers dream will become a rival the holiday powerhouse shopping days, only be bent towards charity not commercialism. “It is a day to celebrate our great tradition of generosity. A day for joining with colleagues, friends and family to support the causes we believe in. A day for giving,” 92nd Street Y’s website says.
The 92nd Street Y is a nonprofit cultural and community center. It has long supported charities in its area, but is trying use the day to encourage giving nationwide.
This is a wonderful concept and speaks to the heart of the season so much more deeply that battling riotous crowds at a discount super store to buy a big-screen TV. It is hoped that this effort takes hold and fosters seasonal giving.
These ideas are not new to us here in the heartland where we know the meaning of Christmas and giving.
Here in central Kansas, we have the United Way of Central Kansas in the middle of its annual fund-raising drive, Farmers Bank and Trust is again sponsoring its Light Up a Child’s Christmas program and will again hold its annual charity coffee, the Salvation Army bell ringers are doing their part, and other groups are holding charitable events as well.
Whether we are buying toys for a needy child, helping a needy family celebrate the holidays with dignity or giving to any number of other local charities, the bottom line is we need to do our part, of course we already know that.
Dale Hogg
