List: 15 ways to give on Giving Tuesday
There are many ways to help others on Giving Tuesday and throughout the entire holiday season. Many organizations will double or triple donations on Giving Tuesday. Here's a guide.
WRAL's Coats for the Children
Coats for the Children is WRAL’s major community campaign to support families in need. We ask our viewers to donate gently used, clean coats, hats and gloves to outfit children for winter. You can text COATS to 41444 to donate.
Donate money
The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina will triple all donations made on Giving Tuesday. The Food Bank will also accept food and donations of needed supplies like toiletries, cleaning supplies and baby items, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at their facility at 1924 Capital Blvd. Finally, people can volunteer their time by signing up for a shift online.
Urban Ministries of Wake County helps people struggling with hunger, homelessness and healthcare. A donation of just $80 can provide three weeks of meals for a family. A gift of $260 provides four nights of shelter to a woman in need.
On Giving Tuesday, the SPCA of Wake County will triple all donations to help rescue more animals.
People can donate money to Dominion Energy's Heat Care Fund online to help neighbors stay warm this winter. 100% of contributions go to help others warm their homes. Similarly, the Warmth for Wake program provides fuel to low-income residents of Wake County. You can donate a space heater or make a monetary donation.
All gifts to Susan G. Komen for breast cancer research on Giving Tuesday will be matched four times!
Donating $163 to InterAct of Wake County provides one crisis counseling session for a family.
Give blood
Did you know people can donate blood six times a year? Blood donors are always needed, but especially in colder months and after the coronavirus pandemic. Consider giving blood through The Blood Connection or the American Red Cross this month and throughout the year. Find a donation site near you and make an appointment online.
On Giving Tuesday, the American Red Cross will double all donations made before midnight to support disaster relief and blood collection drives.
Give toys and clothing
The Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program is in full swing until Dec. 11, and more families than ever need help this year. You can adopt an angel online or at Crabtree Valley Mall near Kanki. The “due back” date for gifts is Dec. 11. Gifts can be dropped off at the The Salvation Army Judy D. Zelnak Center of Hope, 1863 Capital Blvd., or at Crabtree.
People can look for the Salvation Army's festive red kettles at Walmart, Sam's Club, Lowes Foods, and Hobby Lobby locations throughout Wake County, at Cabela's in Garner and at Bass Pro Shops in Cary. People can also donate to the Virtual Red Kettle online.
Visit the Toys for Tots website to shop, select and donate the perfect toy -- all online. Locally-based Toys for Lil Troops is also accepting toy donations for children of low income and/or deployed troops.
Help homeless animals
North Carolina's shelters are packed with dogs, cats and even small animals who need a home for the holidays. By adopting, you clear space and cages so more stray animals can be rescued. Contact your county's shelter for more information.
If you can't adopt, ask about volunteering or items needed. Some shelters need donations of old towels and blankets, newspapers and more.
The Wake County Animal Center has a link of items needed and ways to donate money. Volunteers are always needed.
It's okay to think small
Want to get your kids involved? Ask them to collect a pile of gently used toys they'd like to donate to a child in need this holiday season. Create holiday cards or crafts to drop off at senior living communities and police departments or fire stations.
You can also bake cookies for a neighbor or friend who might be lonely this holiday season. Whatever you decide, embrace the positive spirit of the holiday season.
Tips for giving
North Carolina's Secretary of State Elaine Marshall recommends looking for charities that put at least 75 cents of each dollar toward helping people.
There are some charities that spend only 10% of each dollar on services and use the rest of the money for overhead and fundraising, she cautioned, so it's important to choose carefully. You can research a charity at Give.org.
