GivingTuesday 2018: How To Help Charities In Bel Air

BEL AIR, MD — This year #GivingTuesday is on Nov. 27, and it’s a good opportunity to let your favorite nonprofits know you support them. The global day of philanthropic giving follows retail-themed shopping events such as Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.

If you don't have the spare cash to donate in the run-up to Christmas, remember these groups can use your donations at any time during the year.

Charities fill gaps in communities, such as SARC, which operates a 24-hour help line for victims domestic violence as well as an emergency shelter and offers advocacy and support services.

Here are some Bel Air organizations that signed on to the official #GivingTuesday website as well as others suggested by readers to Bel Air Patch:

• Abingdon Fire Company
• Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company
• Community Foundation of Harford County
• Greater Bel Air Community Foundation
• Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna
• Harford County Bar Foundation
• Harford Land Trust
• Highlands School
• Homecoming Project
• Humane Society of Harford County
• SARC
• Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation
• The Will House

We know there are others charities in the area deserving of a contribution too.

Which charities in Bel Air do you recommend people support on #GivingTuesday?

Tell us in the comments!

If you’re a charity, start a free user account and post your GivingTuesday event directly on Patch.

The concept of Giving Tuesday was created by 92nd Street Y in New York City, where leaders coined #GivingTuesday as "a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration" in 2012.

Last year, more than $300 million was raised online for a broad range of organizations, but cash gifts were only part of the story. People also gave volunteer hours, donations of food and clothing, and, less tangible, performed acts of kindness.

“We are incredibly inspired by the way the #GivingTuesday community has embraced this concept for a worldwide movement,” Henry Timms, founder of GivingTuesday and executive director of the 92nd Street Y, said in a press release. “As we prepare for November 27, we’re energized and encouraged by the community’s generosity. The levels of creativity, effort and the quality of the new ideas people have contributed and shared are phenomenal.”

Patch file photo.