GivingTuesday 2019: How To Help Takoma Park Charities

TAKOMA PARK, MD — If your parents 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 Takoma Park 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 Dec. 3. This may be an opportunity to start your end-of-the-year giving early. Some organizations have already signed up, including:

• Climate First!
• Crossroads Community Food Network
• Dance Exchange
• RepresentWomen
• Solar Village Project
• Vets' Community Connections

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

Tell us: What charities in Takoma Park 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 Chiefs' Travis Kelce and Baltimore Ravens' Earl Thomas, and other glitterati have loaned their names to the effort and surprised children in their communities with shopping sprees.

Millions of dollars have been 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.