So we just got done with Cyber Monday, and Black Friday where the focus is buying and getting.
But what about Giving Tuesday? It’s the opposite of Cyber Monday and Black Friday because it’s all about donating and giving.
Setting aside days just for shopping, buying, looking for deals and sales, and spending our money is the very essence of privilege. Even if you didn’t do any Cyber Monday or Black Friday spending, you may have been able to and that’s still having privilege.
You should not feel defensive, guilty, or ashamed of having that privilege. Please don’t. You should feel enabled. Because you can pass on that privilege to other people and Giving Tuesday is an amazing way to do that because it not only reminds you to stop and see what you have to give, but it also makes it easy for you to do so.
So here are some places where you can give today, on Giving Tuesday.
Heifer International
You can give here: Heifer International, where they empower women, train people in sustainable farming and help them gain access to the market; strengthening individual people and their whole communities. You can give not only monetary gifts but you can even browse their gift catalog where you can choose to give animals, or you can send a girl to school, or give a family a healthy home, or even give a family a farm care package. It’s only $300.00 to give someone the privilege of clean water.
As a little girl, I remember getting to help my parents pick out an animal to send to some family far away. It was not only fun to me but it helped me to be aware, even at a young age, that I was privileged and that it could be a gift.
Compassion International
You can give here: Compassion International, and click through their online gift catalog and choose from giving a baby medical care, giving someone chickens, giving a computer, or even giving someone a life-saving surgery. Compassion is a child-advocacy ministry that pairs compassionate and privileged people with those who are suffering from poverty, all over the world. You can even choose to sponsor a child to get them an education, medical care, nutritious food, clean water, and so much more. Sponsoring a child costs $38.00 a month you can help a child grow up into a fulfilled, independent, responsible adult.
My family started sponsoring a child from India when I was a baby and so my younger siblings and I grew up writing to her, sending her pictures. drawing her pictures and receiving the same things in return. We called her our adopted sister and we loved her and prayed for her. Now we are sponsoring a little boy from Peru and we love watching him grow up too. It’s something we have never regret doing. My mom once said, “There were times when money was really tight for us, but somehow we always had enough to send.” It’s not just life-changing for the child, it’s life changing for you.
World Vision
You can give here at World Vision, where they work in health, helping poverty in America, giving economic empowerment, clean water, education, disaster relief, hunger and food security, and they give child protection, gender equality, and help with disability inclusion, getting help for refugees and they also provide child sponsorship programs. They work all over the world and you can give to any one of their ministries or even go to their Free Handcrafted Gifts where you can donate and get a free handcrafted gift.
Like Heifer International this one can be fun to do if you have kids. Letting them pick out an animal for a family in need will be something they will remember, I know I did.
Heartline Ministries
Heartline Ministries located in Haiti is another place where you can give and their vision is to invest in families in Haiti, by focusing on: maternal care, education, economic opportunity, and outreach with the ending goal being thriving and healthy Haitian families.
The people at Heartline Ministries have a heart for Haiti and they are changing lives every single day, by laying their own down and giving their all for the people of Haiti.
Mercy Ships
Mercy Ships, is the biggest civilian hospital ship in the world and they provide free treatment for tumors, clefts, life-saving surgeries, burns, and medical care and more across the globe. It depends solely upon the donated time and generous donations of supplies and equipment from corporate partners and you can help too.
When I was 13 years old I dreamed of being a nurse on Mercy Ships. Due to a medical diagnosis and my health I was unable to make it on the Ship. But somehow making a donation makes a little part of my dream come true.
TWLOHA
Giving to To Write Love On Her Arms helps this nonprofit movement present hope and find help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide; it exists not only to encourage, inform, and inspire but to invest directly into treatment and recovery.
You can even buy one of their comfy, positive t-shirts in their store and the proceeds go to their mission. I think I have bought about six of their shirts just this year and I love them.
Where and how are you going to give, today, Giving Tuesday? How will you pass on your privilege?
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