After we’re done Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and before we head to the malls en masse to finish scratching items off our holiday lists, it’s time to celebrate GivingTuesday: December 1. A new global movement for giving and volunteering, GivingTuesday taking place each year after Black Friday. Marking the start of the giving season, it’s a day when charities, organizations and people join together and rally for favourite causes.
GivingTuesday is about charity. Focused on making our community and society better, it encourages donations and volunteering activities that support any and all charities and non-profits—including all sorts of organizations here in Ottawa.
For instance, perhaps you’re a fan of Laundry Matters, the local organization that provides laundry services for residential or commercial clients. Its employees take pride in their work; they also happen to have developmental disabilities. Via GivingTuesday, Laundry Matters is hoping to raise $5000 to cover the annual cost of gas to make laundry deliveries. Your support can help make it happen.
When Laundry Matters does your laundry, you’re helping put a fresh spin on community.
In Canada, GivingTuesday was started by a group of organizations including GIV3 and CanadaHelps.org. “According to new data from CanadaHelps, the second annual GivingTuesday increased charitable donations in Canada by 75 per cent on top of last GivingTuesday’s lift of 169 per cent,” the Canadian GivingTuesday website note. “Like last year, charities that actively promoted GivingTuesday saw the greatest lift in donations, with an average overall increase of 93 per cent in number of donations received through CanadaHelps. And, many Canadians committed to the ongoing work of a charity, with the number of new monthly donations set-up using CanadaHelps increasing 84 per cent.”
People and families are encouraged to join the movement by giving and volunteering in whatever ways matter to them.
GivingTuesday is more than a moment, it’s a movement.
An alphabet full of local charities and non-profits are involved and could use your support. Here’s a sampling:
Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre Foundation
Do It for Daron (DIFD)
Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre
Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation
Ottawa Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health
University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation
The Caring and Sharing Exchange
Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation
Y’s Owl Maclure Cooperative Centre
YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region
