TAMPA, Fla. — Each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, people have the chance to stop for a moment and give back during the craziness of the holiday season.
Giving Tuesday can also be the source for anxiety during an expensive time of year when the cost for essentials is already at an all-time high.
Here’s a few no-cost ways to give this Giving Tuesday:
1. Donate your time
It sounds simple, but making a commitment to volunteer with an organization is in many cases just as useful as a monetary donation.
Volunteering once is great but making a weekly or monthly commitment is what many charities need in order to keep operational. Locally, organizations like Feeding Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries, Wreaths Across America, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful and countless others offer weekly and monthly volunteer opportunities.
“You can do different stuff,” explained Pat Hutson, a volunteer with Feeding Tampa Bay. ”I volunteer at one of my granddaughters' schools on Friday and also here. Don’t sit at home and say you don’t have anything to do!”
2. Donate items you already have
Almost everyone has something sitting in storage that could be a significant use to someone else. Have a working TV you just don’t use? Organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Radiant Hands accept larger donations like furniture and will get them to a family in need.
3. Have a skill? Use it!
Most of us have a unique skill that could be of use to someone else. There’s nothing saying you have to donate to a charitable organization on Giving Tuesday — you could simply assist a neighbor or family member in need. If you’re great with repairs, offer to do a small job for a neighbor. If you have a few extra minutes, offer to do some yard work for an elderly community member. Great with computers? Spend a few minutes showing someone the ropes.
4. Use your voice
Are you incredibly passionate about a charitable organization and just can’t donate at this point in time? Try starting a virtual fundraiser. For your birthday or special occasion, ask for small donations through your virtual fundraiser for a particular organization. Raising a small amount of money through promoting a charity close to your heart will go a long way because passion is contagious!
Giving Tuesday has been gaining steam over the last decade. In 2021, more than 35 million people participated nationwide raising over $2 billion.
5. Watch out for scammers - Bay area organization shares its experience
Since “Giving Tuesday” began 10 years ago, it’s helped raise more than $1 billion for charities worldwide. At Metropolitan Ministries, spokeswoman Justine Berk says they’ve been thankful for the boost they get here, too.
“We’ve had days where we’ve done close to $100,000 in one day in just online giving alone,” she said. With that kind of money being exchanged online, the Better Business Bureau says scammers are doing everything they can to steal a piece of people’s good intentions.
“They going make posts on social media,” said spokesman Bryan Oglesby, “They may show up at a top search engine result. They may even send you a text message or email enticing you to give on this day.” Oglesby says often times the scammers pretend to be actual charities.
Burke says Metropolitan Ministries has fallen victim to that.
“We’ve had people going door to door knocking on doors asking for food donations and money on behalf of us, Metropolitan Ministries, and of course we don’t do that,” she said.
The Better Business Bureau says with just a little research, checking the background of the charity asking you for money, can make the difference between spreading some Christmas cheer and filling a Scrooge's pockets.