GivingTuesday 2018: How To Help Silver Spring Charities

SILVER SPRING, MD — If mom and dad want something, there's a good chance they'll go out and buy it. The grandparents are sending their stuff home with you, and the last thing your parents want is more of it. So, what do you do? One option is donating to a Silver Spring charity in their name. And what better time to give than on #GivingTuesday? It's a global day of philanthropic giving and volunteerism that follows Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.

This year, #GivingTuesday is on Nov. 27. This may be an opportunity to start your end-of-the-year giving early. Some organizations have already signed up, including:

• A Wider Circle
• American Nurses Association
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America
• Barrie School
• Big Picture Learning
• Carpe Diem Arts
• Child Justice Inc
• Court Watch Montgomery
• Free2Rise Educational Foundation, Inc
• Global Sustainable Partnerships (GSP)
• Primary Care Coalition
• Pulmonary Hypertension Association
• Races for Peace
• Rainbow Community Development Center
• Salvadoran Enterprises for Women
• Shepherd's Table
• Street Law, Inc.
• Teen Angel Project
• The Association of Zoos and Aquariums
• Trees For The Future
• Urban Artistry, Inc.
• Washington Revels

But we know there are more charities deserving of a contribution.

Tell Us: What charities in Silver Spring do you recommend people give to on #GivingTuesday? Tell us in the comments, or if you're a charity, start a free user account and post your GivingTuesday event directly on Patch.

Charities fill gaps in communities like ours. No matter how tough your life is, it's not hard to look around and find someone who has it worse. Plus, it makes you feel good and, if you have children, teaches them the importance of charity.

The global movement got its start in 2012 at the Belfer Center for Innovation at the 92nd Street Y, a cultural center in New York City. It harnesses the power of social media — you'll see the #GivingTuesday hashtag popping up on your accounts — and the generosity of people and corporations to unite people around the values of community service and giving.

Businesses and individuals can show their generosity on #GivingTuesday. In past years, entertainers such as Queen Latifah, NFL stars like Kansas City Chief Travis Kelce and Seattle Seahawk Earl Thomas and other glitterati have loaned their names to the effort and surprised children in their communities with shopping sprees. Last year, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital hosted a #GiveThanks Holiday Pop-Up in New York City on #GivingTuesday.

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."

Image via Shutterstock

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