What you need to know about Giving Tuesday
After a weekend of holiday shopping, it's time for consumers to get charitable.
Dec. 3 is Giving Tuesday. Also known as the National Day of Giving, the holiday aims to shift focus following one of the biggest shopping holidays of the year, bringing more focus to charities.
Started in 2012 by New York City's 92nd Street Y, Giving Tuesday has grown into a global movement. The idea behind the holiday is fairly simple: Everyone is encouraged to give in any way they can to organizations they care about. This can be money, time or even just getting the word out.
Here are some ways you can get involved:
Give to your favorite cause
You know that charity you love that you've been meaning to make a donation to? Tuesday's the day to finally do it. And be sure to use the hashtag #GivingTuesday to encourage your friends to learn more so they might give, too.
Get your donation matched
Many companies match cash donations made by employees to eligible organizations. Contact your employer to learn more.
Disney Media Networks in November announced its participation in the World's Ultimate Toy Drive campaign to benefit the U.S. Marine Corp Reserve's Toys for Tots Foundation and help bring joy to less fortunate children throughout the U.S. this holiday season. The World's Ultimate Toy Drive runs through Dec. 15, 2019, with various activations across the company to inspire kids and families to join in the season of giving by giving back to those who need it most.
The ABC Owned Television Stations will host community toy drive events across the eight markets in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh and Fresno. You can also donate a new, unwrapped toy online at shopDisney.com or at a U.S. Disney store from now through Dec. 15, 2019, and Disney will donate $1 to Toys for Tots.
Shop for a cause
There are plenty of ways to shop while benefitting good causes. One way is to go to smile.amazon.com and choose a charity. Amazon will donate while you shop!
RELATED: Do your holiday shopping while benefitting others
Clean out your closet - and give it away
The holiday is an excellent opportunity to donate gently used items to local non-profits while also making some space in your home. Go through your coat closets, toy closets and even your bookshelves and give away the items you don't need anymore.
You can help charities just by telling Santa what's on your wish list. For every letter to Santa it receives, Macy's will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, up to $1 million.
Sign up to volunteer
You don't have to open your wallet to give back. Sites like VolunteerMatch can help connect you to organizations in your community hosting Giving Tuesday events, or you can reach out to your favorite charity. Whether it's delivering warm clothes to those in need, serving at your local soup kitchen or even singing carols, sign up to spread some holiday cheer.
RELATED: Ways to give back this holiday season
The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of ABC and this station.
