WHAT IS GIVING TUESDAY ?
Tis the season of gratitude and giving ! It ' s my favorite time of year . Giving Tuesday is a global movement created in 2012 as a day to give back and " do good ". Fresh off the corporate overspending of Black Friday and Cyber Monday , Giving Tuesday is a simple idea of inspiring people to donate time , money or resources to people or nonprofits in your community , and has become the single largest day of donations during the year .
Many major businesses and companies will even match donations , so inquire with your employer about how to get involved .
Giving Tuesday is always the Tuesday following Cyber Monday . This year it ' s Dec . 3 . We have several nonprofit organizations across Stillwater and Oklahoma that consistently need financial support or volunteers . You don ' t have to just donate money to a cause , you can offer to rake your neighbor ' s leaves , hold the door open for everyone behind you , or deliver a meal . Every act of kindness and generosity counts , and everyone has something to give ! Need some ideas on how to get started ? We ' ve got you covered ! You can talk with friends and family to decide on a nonprofit that aligns with your values . Small communityled organizations need support too , so keeping it in Oklahoma is a way to give back and actually watch your good deeds flourish .
Have your kids or business office pick out an organization that resonates with them . Pay it forward ( think groceries and gas , not fancy coffees ) for someone in line behind you . Send a card to someone because we all like getting mail besides bills ! No deed is too small , and Giving Tuesday seems like the perfect day to start ! Giving to local Oklahoma organizations ensures the money and donated items go directly to them .
Celebrate Giving Tuesday this year and I promise it ' ll make your heart happy . If you ' re looking for Oklahoma nonprofits to donate to , here ' s a list of my favorites :
4Rez Dogs Resources ( www . rezdogresources . com ) is a fund and animal welfare advocacy collective created on the set of the Oklahoma TV series " Reservation Dogs ."
4Our Daily Bread ( www . ourdailybreadstillwater . org ) is our local Payne County food pantry and resource center .
4Humane Society of Stillwater ( www . hspets . org ) is an animal shelter that operates solely on donations .
4Tulsa Day Center ( www . tulsadaycenter . org ) provides a full range of services for overcoming homelessness .
4City Care Night Shelter ( www . citycareokc . org ) combats social injustice and extreme poverty in our state .
4Lasagna Love ( www . lasagnalove . org ) spreading kindness by providing food for overwhelmed families in need of a home cooked meal .
For more information on Giving Tuesday visit www . givingtuesday . org
Celebrate Giving Tuesday this year and I promise it ' ll make your heart happy .
STORY BY : JENNIFER JALBERT Stillwater Oklahoma Magazine
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 40