After the total madness of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday (phew) one of the things we love best is #GivingTuesday. The point being that after taking advantage of so many great shopping deals for yourself and your loved ones over the past week, it’s a good time to think about putting aside a little something for others in need, locally and abroad.
We can’t tell you where or how or how much to give, but here are ten ideas to get you thinking:
1. Support an Indiegogo or Kickstarter campaign and help an entrepreneur.
2. Give to a favorite favorite charity–or let your kids pick one that interests them and commit to putting some of their allowance towards it. You can also check our charity archives for a ton of ideas. We love the latest collaboration between Heifer Int’l and One.org to give a goat. (Yes, a goat.)
3. Pack up those baby clothes and unused strollers that are taking up space and donate to a charity like Baby Buggy in your community that supports new parents.
4. Shop gifts that give back, from shops like Given Goods Company, Krochet Kids, fashionABLE, or TOMS Marketplace.
5. Buy ornaments that support great causes and stockpile them for hostess gifts.
7. Visit Donors Choose and support a classroom in need; there are tons right now.
8. Tweet, Facebook, or email a message from ONE.org. They never ask for money–only your voice. And it does make a difference.
9. Shop Project (RED) for gifts–or for yourself. I needed a new Mophie Charging case for my iPhone and I’m thrilled with the red one I got!
10. Volunteer for your own school, your place of worship, your fire or police departments, your neighborhood association. People in need are often as close as your own community.
When you commit to a project, feel free to share it with the hashtag #GivingTuesday. Not that we don’t love big sales days, but this is an extra-special way to slow down and be part of the holiday season in a really meaningful way.
Learn more about #GivingTuesday, a project that started with the 92nd Street Y and now includes more than 2,500 non-profit partners. Liz is proud to be involved with Baby Buggy and the One.org ONEMoms.
[image via giving tuesday bucks county]
