10 Giving Tuesday Ideas & Ways to Pay it Forward

Before I go any further I have to share a major accomplishment that I’m pretty darn proud of. I made it! I’m crossing the finish line of BlogHer’s November NaBloPoMo! *THROWING HANDFULS OF CONFETTI* This post right here is the last one of the month and it signifies something that I’ve never achieved before, which is writing a blog post every single day for an entire month. Some days have been easier than others, but I’m finishing and I couldn’t be happier, especially because I’ve decided to dedicate this post to something really good. As in, socially good.

Earlier this month I talked about Giving Tuesday, which is a fairly new movement dedicated to giving back. It takes place on December 2nd and I hope you’ll join me.

It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. Join us and be a part of a global celebration of a new tradition of generosity.

Now that we’ve all eaten enough stuffing and pumpkin pie to last a lifetime (or at least until next year) and hopefully gotten some great deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s time to give our wallets a little rest and find ways to give back to those around us. See, that’s what I love about Giving Tuesday. It isn’t about writing a check or handing over a handful of cash, but instead it’s about giving of yourself and how you decide to do that is totally up to you. It could be something really simple or something a little more elaborate, depending on your personal schedule and preference. Are you asking yourself what you could do to make a difference? If so, I’m here to help or you could check out the GivingTuesday website for ideas.

1. Volunteer at your local soup kitchen. Whether you can help prep an entire meal or assist with the serving and/or clean-up, I promise they appreciate every minute of help you’re willing to provide.
2. Visit a senior citizen/assisted living facility and offer to play games or read to the residents.
3. Tweet with the #GivingTuesday hashtag to help raise awareness of this wonderful campaign & mark your calendar for a Twitter chat on December 2 at Noon EST.
4. Tweet positive or encouraging thoughts to a friend (or stranger) on Twitter.
5. Offer to help in your child’s classroom.
6. Visit your local animal shelter and help with the feeding and care of the cats and/or take a dog for a walk.
7. Take an #UnSelfie and share it on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag along with something you’re grateful for in your life.
8. Purchase a coffee for the person behind you in the drive-through line.
9. Share your good deed on social media to inspire your friends, family, and followers to give back, too!
10. Donate a bag of gently worn clothes, a bag of food, or a box of toys and books to your local homeless shelter.

I’m sure there are many other wonderful, generous, and thoughtful ways for you and your family to do something more on #GivingTuesday, but I hope you’ll consider one of my ideas because no matter what you decide I promise it will make a difference. Let’s do this!