After all the Black Friday shopping, supporting Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday sales, it’s time for Giving Tuesday.
Today is the eighth internationally-recognized day for charitable giving to kick off the Christmas holiday season.
People are encouraged to support nonprofit organizations and their causes today by making a monetary donation or volunteering their time and talents to benefit their communities.
That could mean buying presents for Sertoma’s annual Christmas Miracle project, being a Salvation Army bell ringer, volunteering to help the homeless through Double Down Outreach or serving meals through The Alley Kitchen.
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Dick Stein of Seymour said he plans to support two charities this year on Giving Tuesday, the Humane Society of the United States and Polar Bears International.
As an animal lover and advocate, Stein said he feels it’s important to help animals because they can’t help themselves.
"Polar bears are my favorite animal, and they need lots of help thanks to humans and our global warming," he said.
A simple way to give back locally is through the Community Foundation of Jackson County or Jackson County United Way. Both organizations raise money for local service agencies and community charitable funds.
The foundation offers several grant and scholarship opportunities throughout the year that target the areas of education, economic development, human services, the arts and culture. Donors can choose what their gift will help fund or they may contribute to the foundation’s unrestricted fund.
Donations to United Way are used to improve education, health and financial stability of all residents in the county. Funds are raised and distributed to the following agencies: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Indiana, Boys and Girls Club, Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, Girls Inc., Human Services, Read Jackson County/Plaza Latina, Anchor House, The Arc of Jackson County, Boy Scouts of America Hoosier Trails Council, Child Care Network, Mental Health America of Jackson County, Senior Citizen Centers in Seymour, Brownstown, Crothersville, Freetown and Medora, Meals on Wheels, Turning Point, American Red Cross and Salvation Army.
United Way also organizes Rock ‘n’ Ready school supply distribution, free tax preparation for low-income residents and Day of Caring events.
Dan Davis, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Jackson County, said he always hopes people remember others in need during the holiday season.
People can make a #GivingTuesday gift to the Community Foundation online at cfjacksoncounty.org, can mail a donation to Box 1231, Seymour, IN 47274, or can make a donation in person at the foundation office at 107 Community Drive in Seymour.
Although monetary donations are needed, Davis said volunteering is just as important to philanthropic efforts.
"We of course hope to see donations to our community funds, but we also hope the day stirs people to act," he said. "We hope that they donate their time and talents to a cause. That collective action, that collective effort, truly can make a difference in our community."
Davis said Giving Tuesday can be the start of future and sustained giving, not just one day a year.
"Need knows no day or week or month or calendar," he said. "Need is persistent, and the need of our individual time, talent and treasure should be equally persistent if we’re to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors, friends and family."
Although he doesn’t have statistics to prove it, Davis believes there could be a greater need for support now than in the past.
"I think a number of charitable, nonprofit organizations in Jackson County are seeing a shortfall in giving this year," he said.
That downturn can be attributed to several factors, he added.
"We think it could be an impact of changes to the federal tax law made in December 2017 just now showing up," he said. "We also think some people may be concerned that the economy may be headed for a downturn."
Tonja Couch, executive director of Jackson County United Way, said Giving Tuesday has made a difference in the community in the past and she expects that to continue.
The organization has used the fundraiser in a variety of ways from paying for transportation and lunch to give donors and residents a tour of partnering agencies, to raising more than $1,500 for Free Income Tax Assistance to bringing JACSY, United Way’s mascot, back.
Couch said there are a couple of incentives to donating on Giving Tuesday that will increase a donor’s impact.
One way is by making a donation to Jackson County United Way or its partnering agencies through Facebook. The social media site has launched a campaign to match up to $7 million in donations beginning at 8 a.m. today.
Facebook users can set up fundraisers for their favorite charities on Facebook and the company will match donations raised on a first come first serve basis.
Jackson County United Way also has a matching grant this year for any new donors of $100 or more, Couch said. The new gift is matched dollar for dollar or any increase of $25 or more on a gift of $100 or more.
Donations may be made to Jackson County United Way on Facebook or on its website jacsy.org/donate. Those interested donating their time and talent can call the United Way Volunteer Center at 812-522-5450.
Couch agreed with Davis the need for donations and volunteers never goes away or lessens.
"The need continues to grow," she said.
Karen Browning, executive director of Waymaker Ministries, said this will be first time the ministry has participated in Giving Tuesday because its the first year Waymaker has been an officially recognized nonprofit.
She is excited about the opportunities that presents.
"I have found other nonprofits say that this is a good time to get new people involved in giving," she said. "Being able to get our mission out to those who don’t yet know us through something they are looking to participate in is huge."
Any funds donated to Waymaker Ministries this year on Giving Tuesday will go directly to impact the community, she said.
They are hoping to raise $1,800 today.
"Our primary goal is to raise enough money to purchase a trauma healing program for first responders," she said. "This program will help us give back to the police, firefighters and EMS workers who pour out so much of their lives to keep us safe and be there on some of the worst days of our lives."
Additional funds will be used to purchase Chromebooks for mobile access to serve Double Down Outreach and the Jackson County Toolbox.
"These Chromebooks will allow us to quickly access the resources needed by those we serve to get them the help they need and easily access Charity Tracker to network with other agencies and churches," she said.
Donations to Waymaker Minstries can be made online at paypal.me/waymaker 2019 or venmo.com/Waymaker-Ministries. Checks may be made to Waymaker Ministries at Box 189, Seymour IN 47274.
To volunteer with Waymaker Ministries, call Chad Browning at 877-325-3696.
Giving Tuesday makes it easy for people to become more philanthropic, Karen added.
"Funding is competitive in some aspects and Giving Tuesday allows people, especially the younger generation, who tends to be social media savvy, a chance to look at the various programs participating and choose to give to those that most align with their personal beliefs and hopes for the community," she said.
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People can make a #GivingTuesday gift to the Community Foundation online at cfjacksoncounty.org, can mail a donation to P.O. Box 1231, Seymour, IN 47274, or can make a donation in person at the foundation office at 107 Community Drive in Seymour.
Donations can be made to Jackson County United Way on Facebook or on its website jacsy.org/donate. Those interested in donating their time and talent can call the United Way Volunteer Center at 812-522-5450.
Donations to Waymaker Minstries can be made online at paypal.me/waymaker 2019 or venmo.com/Waymaker-Ministries. Checks can be made to Waymaker Ministries at P.O. Box 189, Seymour IN 47274. To volunteer with Waymaker Ministries, call Chad Browning at 877-325-3696.
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