Give Back to Local Nonprofits for #GivingTuesdayCLT

Today, Dec. 2, is #GivingTuesday. Seems to fit with the spirit of the season (and a good counterbalance to Black Friday and Cyber Monday). #GivingTuesday (as you’ll see all over social media today) is about giving back in the community. An abundance of activity throughout the Queen City is encouraging Charlotteans to give back. In Charlotte, more than 60 local nonprofits have come together to celebrate #GivingTuesdayCLT.

#GivingTuesdayCLT is powered through SHARE Charlotte, a fantastic organization that connects local nonprofits to volunteers. (Read more about how SHARE Charlotte got started). GivingTuesdayCLT is about leaving the hustle and bustle of the holidays behind for a minute and giving back either by volunteering time to an organization or by making a monetary donation to the nonprofit of your choice.

If your calendar is full today, but you really want to carve out some time to give back, SHARE Charlotte is encouraging people to pledge volunteer hours for 2015. Check out the list of volunteer opportunites through SHARE Charlotte. What I love about this site is how it organizes opportunities by category (kids, families, animals, etc.) which makes it easier to find a group that is special to you and your family. You can also search for opportunities that give student community service credit.

Other ways you can participate today and include the kids: collect gently used coats that the kids have outgrown that can be given to a child who needs a coat to get through the winter; bake cookies with the kids and make plans to visit a local assisted living center to brigthen residents’ spirits at the holidays; or just take a minute to peruse all the great nonprofits in our area and talk to the family about where they would like to spend some time helping out. 

And if you are thinking about making a monetary donation this year, consider doing it today as the Knight Foundation is matching a portion of each dollar donated today to any nonprofit through SHARE Charlotte. How does your family give back? We’d love to hear. Share in the comments below.