Giving Tuesday: Local Organizations Set Positive Examples on Giving Back to the Community

Organizations nationwide are kicking off the charitable season by participating in Giving Tuesday.

We’ve had black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.

Now we’re finding out why Giving Tuesday is equally as important.

“It’s because it’s a reminder that this is the giving season and that everybody at some point in time is probably going to need some help,” said Tim Beaton, who is Executive Director of F-M Area Foundation.

On this Giving Tuesday, Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation hosted a Cookies & Cocoa fundraising event.

Members of the community were invited to bring an unwrapped gift to be donated as a present for someone in need.

“They can donate a toy to First Link, Toys for Tots program,” Beaton said.

Last year, there were over 700,000 people in the world who donated on this day to their favorite charity, totaling $116 million.

And some organizations took a different approach in celebrating Giving Tuesday.

“I thought we would use social media to kind of create awareness,” said Alicia Waldoch, who is the Boys & Girls Club Director of Communications.

The Boys and Girls Club of the Red River Valley provides a place for youth to be constructive while they’re out of school.

They say helping youth in the community is what the holiday season is all about.

“Particularly those who help kids, that’s very near and dear to my heart here at the Boys and Girls Club,” said Robin Nelson, who is the CEO of the organization.

Other organizations even partnered up earlier in the year to be able to provide a donation specifically for Giving Tuesday.

Following this year’s Trick or Treat Wish Walk, Downtown Fargo donated $1,071 of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish North Dakota.

“Anyone who chooses to donate to Make-A-Wish…we are very honored to accept that money for the kids that we serve,” said Tara Ekren, who is the Director of Communications for Make-A-Wish North Dakota.

Local organizations truly show how important it is to give back during the holiday season.