Giving Tuesday is an important day for volunteers all around the world that is being treated as an unofficial holiday. Although it got its start in New York, Giving Tuesday grew with the rise of social media. On the Tuesday following Thanksgiving many establishments, organizations and individuals prioritize giving back to their community. Whether it be through donations or acts of service, you can see charitable acts of kindness all around.
College campuses are filled with students who take the initiative to volunteer on their own throughout the school year. Giving Tuesday, however, is an intentional global generosity day that began in 2012.
Ten years later, we see generosity being exemplified more than ever. Daphney Lorenzo, a first-year Florida A&M University student, says she will take part in the movement by shopping locally.
“Tomorrow as my way of giving I will be sure to support family-owned businesses in my community,” Lorenzo said. “It feels so much better buying things from small businesses because they make your purchase feel more personal and heartfelt.”
FAMU is encouraging the campus to get out and do good Tuesday through its faculty and students. The nonprofit organization Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) has created the Giving Tuesday initiative MANRRS Gives. The organization is seeking to raise over $30,000. Mikiyah Baldwin, MANRRS national undergraduate parliamentarian, says the initiative is a positive way to support the future of the organization.
“By donating to MANRRS you become the change and change the face of agriculture and related sciences,” Baldwin said. “The donations support national officer development, chapter sustainability, and national MANRRS programs.”
Over the years, Giving Tuesday has brought an influx of donations throughout the Big Bend. Donation centers such as the Kearney Center and Goodwill expect to receive drop offs in substantial amounts. Jackie Coleman, Goodwill Industries-Big Bend Inc. receptionist, says they have already started preparing space for the expected increase on Tuesday.
“We accept all donations from clothes to furniture and books, so we receive any and everything on days like Giving Tuesday,” Coleman said. “We have a lot of people who come drop off items in person at the center, although that’s not our only method of accepting. Even online we receive a lot of third-party donations that need to be picked up at a later date.”
To give back Tuesday you can research local drop-off destinations online and get exact information on what is needed throughout the community.