SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — 'Tis the season to be generous. People around the world are giving their time, money and support to community organizations, businesses and other groups. It's all part of a campaign called Giving Tuesday.
Giving Tuesday was started in 2012. The purpose is to promote generosity on a global scale as well as encourage people to make positive changes in their communities.
Giving Tuesday has grown over the years into a global movement with people celebrating generosity. Anyone, anywhere can participate in the campaign. People usually give what they can to community organizations, businesses and other groups of their choice. If people can't give money, they donate their time.
The American Red Cross is one of many nonprofits participating in Giving Tuesday this year. The Red Cross depends on generous donors, volunteers and employees to help prevent and relieve suffering, locally and around the world.
"We are the organization whose volunteers are there when we have a natural disaster, like a wildfire," said Steve Walsh, spokesperson with the American Red Cross. "We put people in shelters and we have volunteers that go out in the middle of the night if you have a house fire to make sure that you're cared for and and that we help you get to your next steps."
The California Gold Country Region of the Red Cross serves more than 3 million people across 26 counties, including Placer, Sutter, El Dorado, Yolo and Sacramento counties. In addition to the Red Cross providing shelters, meals and comfort to people affected by disasters, the Red Cross also supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood.
"Public support, so that we can keep doing that work, is critical because if it's not there, we can't provide the same level of service that we always do, which is being there in someone's time of need, immediately," Walsh said.
The Red Cross also teaches skills that save lives, like fire prevention and swimming safety; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families.
People can support the Red Cross by donating during Giving Tuesday. The Coca-Cola Company is matching all gifts, dollar-for-dollar, up to $250,000. Financial donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. There are also opportunities for people to volunteer, donate blood, fundraise and more.
Single Mom Strong is also participating in Giving Tuesday. It's a nonprofit based in Sacramento County. Tara Taylor founded Single Mom Strong with a mission to empower single mothers and their children through enrichment, encouragement and educational programs.
Single Mom Strong offers a list of services and programs, like empowerment workshops, pre-employment coaching, a free career clothing closet to help single moms dress for success, men's mentoring programs, tutoring, childcare and more.
"Single moms are determined," Taylor said. "They persevere, work hard, and just like every parent, they want the best outcome for their families. Single moms are already doing everything they can all year round. So, it's important that if you know a singe mom to just lift them up, like giving their child a ride to practice or just noticing what might be helpful for their families, especially during the holidays."
Single Mom Strong offers a program called Holiday Adopt-A-Family. Families enrolled in the program typically receive a holiday meal, a special present for mothers and multiple gifts for their children. Every holiday season, the Adopt-A-Family program matches donors with families of their preference. The program helped 66 families last year, roughly 300 people.
"Holiday Adopt-A-Family is one of our biggest initiatives," Taylor said. "It instills hope, love and joy for single parent-led families. All funds that are raised on our website from Thanksgiving to Giving Tuesday will be used for the Holiday Adopt-A-Family program. This year, we will be supporting 70 families led by single parents."
Single Mom Strong is all about working to identify challenges and removing barriers to single mothers' success. There are all sorts of ways to support Single Mom Strong and its overall mission, like making a donation or participating in volunteer opportunities and sponsorship options.
Black Womxn United (BWU), a nonprofit in Sacramento, is looking for support during Giving Tuesday, too. BWU was founded in 2017. The organization is focused on the education, empowerment, and advancement of Black women and girls.
"Black Womxn United has been the forefront of the fight for Black women, amplifying our voices and advocating for the changes that are needed to uplift our communities," said Shawntay Gorman, a board member with Black Womxn United. "BWU also gives Black women the space and support needed to recharge. Our mission for 2024 and beyond is leadership and rest. We are not only leading the fight against oppression for Black women, but the fight for Black women to pause, reflect and embrace rest as an integral part of the revolution."
BWU offers several programs, services and events year round to support Black women, families and communities most. That includes community festivals, youth and professional development workshops, Black Girls Matter summer film series, arts and crafts programs, a community girls choir, mental health services, domestic violence and healing retreats, sound baths, educational experiences with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEM) and more. Last year, BWU served at least 600 people in the Greater Sacramento area.
"It's important for people to give to Black Womxn United so we can continue to provide these sorts of programs and services in the community," Gorman said. "We want to continue supporting Black women and girls not just in 2024, but beyond. It's also important to support Black-led organizations, especially those led by Black women, because it gives us a chance to amplify our voices."
Millions of people participate in Giving Tuesday every year, like volunteering at homeless shelters, organizing food drives, or giving to fundraisers that help those in need. If you're interested in supporting certain organizations in the Greater Sacramento region, the best thing you can do is go directly to their website and learn about all the ways you can give back. Every organization is different, with different needs and opportunities.
There's no list of nonprofits participating in Giving Tuesday because people are simply encouraged to give to any cause that speaks most to their heart. To learn more about Giving Tuesday, visit the official website.
