Giving Tuesday

Maybe it's a new thing or I just haven't been as observant (or giving) in the past, but this is the first I'm hearing/seeing anything about Giving Tuesday. Has it always been a thing or is it new?

Giving and serving others is something that has really been on my heart lately so I thought I would share with you some of the ways you can give on this Giving Tuesday.

These are organizations that I have given to in the past or am currently supporting and thought you might be interested in supporting them, too. But if not, I encourage you to find an organization or cause that you're passionate about and give to them, rather it be a monetary or time donation.

And while everyone is always in the giving spirit this time of year (which is not a bad thing at all), also remember that you can give year round. :)

Be the Match
For patients diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases, a bone marrow or cord blood transplant may be their best or only hope for a cure. Yet 70% of patients who need a transplant do not have a donor in the family. They depend on Be The Match to find a match to save their lives. The registry includes 12.5 million volunteers who stand ready to be a life-saving marrow donor.

Be the Match needs people to join the registry and provide funds. The funds help to add new donors, conduct research to save lives and was the financial burden for patients before and after the transplant. You can also volunteer with the organization if you're unable to provide funds or join the registry.

Pelotonia
I rode in my first Pelotonia ride this past summer and plan to be involved in the future. I'm just not sure what distance I'll ride. Maybe just 50! :) Either way, this organization raises funds for a great cause and that cause is to end cancer! 100% of donations go directly to cancer research at The James. You can give to the general fund for the 2016 ride here. I'll also be asking for donations this spring/summer, so you can wait and give then if you like! ;)

ALS Association
Remember in the summer of 2014 when the Ice Bucket Challenge was all the rage? Well, I was nominated and I took it but also pledged to donate $100. I had all intentions of doing that and I got lazy and forgetful and never did it. But I did do it. (Even if it was just today. It had been on my conscious for a while now.) If you took the challenged and pledged to give but never did, I encourage you to do it! ALS is really an awful disease and I watched a friend  watch a mentor, coach and friend of hers go through this disease and it is just awful! You can donate funds for research, volunteer or advocate for ALS.

Compassion
This is an organization that was put on my radar many, many years ago when I first started blogging. A few bloggers posted about how they sponsored a child. Kelly Stamps even got to travel to another country and meet the little girl she and her family sponsored. Recently Compassion had been popping up again in my life. I had been thinking about sponsoring a child for a while and seeing or hearing about it multiple times in just a few days was what I needed to just do it. It's a monthly donation that I've committed to, but that just means I will need to quit eating out, going to the tanning bed, and splurging on nail polish from Target to match every outfit. So go here and pick out a cute little face that you can help. I think you even get to hear from them from time to time and I love sending/receiving mail, so I'm looking forward to that too!

mmore
This is an organization that I gave to about 5 years ago when my co-worker was raising money for an organization that is close to her heart. Sandy's husband Nick is multiple myeloma and mmore (Multiple Myeloma Opportunities for Research and Education) is the organization that supports research to put an end to this cancer. You can donate here. If you feel inclined, donate in honor of Nick Menedis. He is a survivor of this disease and hopefully this organization can help find a cure for everyone!

Mid-Ohio Foodbank
No one should go hungry but it happens. The MOF works with many different groups and businesses to feed those who are unable have a meal. For every $1 that is donated, they're able to distribute $10 worth of groceries to people in need. You can donate here.

Gift of Energy
Columbia Gas has a program where you can buy gift certificates to help someone else pay for their energy/heat expenses. During the winter, a lot of people don't have the extra money to pay the high cost of heating their home, and therefore they are cold. If you know someone on a fixed income that may be facing the problem of not being able to heat their home, go here to purchase a gift certificate. I'm sure it will be warmly appreciated.

What organizations get your support throughout the year or at the holidays?