After Thanksgiving are the "holidays" that send consumers toward Christmas, with names you've heard for years:
Black Friday.
Small Business Saturday.
Take a Break Sunday (Okay, we made that one up).
Cyber Monday.
Well, today is Giving Tuesday, often stylized as #GivingTuesday, a day to encourage sharing time and treasure with those in need, and lift up the causes or charities closest to us during a generous time of year. On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world have come together since the movement started in 2012 for the common purpose of celebrating giving and making a positive impact on communities, outside one's own home, during the holiday season.
For many nonprofits, Giving Tuesday is the top day of the year for donations, and many of those donors become regular, long-term donors. The amount raised worldwide since the movement became a wave has gone from tens of millions to the billions.
A short but non-comprehensive list of local organizations that impact lives throughout Osceola County — who could use your support — include:
Help Now of Osceola
Hope Partnership
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida (including clubs in Kissimmee, Buenaventura Lakes and St. Cloud)
The Salvation Army (as it looks to replace its fire-destroyed Osceola center)
Give Kids the World Village
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida (reach out to Pantry Planters to be a local pantry and source for food for families)
UCP of Central Florida
The Central Florida Animal Reserve
Amazing Animals
