Give back on #GivingTuesday

As the holiday season kicks off, we’ve given thanks for our blessings and shopped the best deals on Black Friday in person and Cyber Monday online. Now it’s time to give something back.

In recent years, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving has become known as Giving Tuesday, or #GivingTuesday as it’s tagged on social media sites. It is a reminder that there are lots of organizations that need our help, especially during the holidays. It’s a global movement that we and our families can join at the local level and start a new holiday tradition of generosity.

And so, in honor of #GivingTuesday today, Tuesday, Dec. 2, let’s talk about some of our local nonprofit organizations.

If you don’t know where to start, click here to find all the Chamber members that are nonprofits.

But we’ll give you some ideas here:

• Adopt-a-Family during the holidays from Upward Transitions to provide them with specific needs. Upward Transitions operates two programs – Travelers Aid and the Homeless Assistance Center, which is a community outreach program that helps needy and homeless clients by providing basic needs.
• Buy something from the wish list of Infant Crisis Services, Inc., which provides formula, food, diapers and other needs to babies and toddlers in crisis.
• Give a matching gift to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma – Chesapeake Energy Corp. and the Cresap Family Foundation will match all donations to the Food Bank between now and Jan. 15 up to $1 million, a gift that would provide 10 million meals for chronically hungry children. Or, sign up your family to volunteer in its warehouse.
• Donate to Allied Arts, the area’s umbrella organization for central Oklahoma’s cultural groups, and get a chance to win one of 10 prize packages, including a $250 gift certificate.

Oklahoma has more than 17,000 nonprofit groups in the state, so there are many ways you can get involved. Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits is always a great resource for the state’s nonprofit groups.