Do you feel a shopping hangover between Black Friday and Small Business Saturday? Did you protest all the consumerism of the Holiday season, forfeiting Cyber Monday? There’s another day on the horizon aimed to do better for the world.

Giving Tuesday, or #GivingTuesday (in 2013 talk) is a day to “give” to nonprofits, designated as the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. According to the official website, it asks for partners to create and commit to a project on #GivingTuesday and spread the word.

6 Ways to Give Back On Giving Tuesday:

1. Take an #unselfie. Upload your shots of giving back and volunteering to the FB, Twittter & Instagram to share.
2. Donate to local organizations. Set aside some of the money you’d be splurging on some of the season deals to donate to a local nonprofit.
3. Volunteer. Volunteer Match and volunteer.phila.gov are two websites that help you volunteer with  the perfect Philadelphia nonprofits. Anything from day-commitments to ongoing opportunities are available.
4. Clean your closet & give to local charities. Whether you have unworn winter coats, old furniture in storage or old towels, there’s many local organizations which will find your trash, their treasure.
5. Add a new member to your family. Local animal shelters like PAWS, Morris Animal Refuge & Street Tails always have furry friends ready for a new home. If you’re ready for a lifelong commitment of wags, pets and snuggles, consider adopting an animal.
6. Help out an elderly neighbor with yard work, household chores or errands.

Unsure of the perfect nonprofit for you? We recommend a search of the Google, but here’s a few local orgs to get you started.

8 Philly Local Organizations to Help:

1. Cradles to Crayons donates coats, winter clothing, boots, sneakers, baby furniture, diapers, school supplies and more to children in homeless and low-income situations. They host drives throughout the region, but you can host your own drive through your business, neighborhood or community group.
2. Canine Partners for Life pairs service dogs with those who have a range of physical and cognitive disabilities. (Warning: it’s easy to tear up reading some of their Recipient stories.)
3. Philabundance fights hunger in our local communities.
4. MANNA helps those with serious diseases like HIV/AIDS, cancer, renal and cardiac disease and diabetes.
5. Rebuilding Together Philly helps improve the homes and lives of low-income homeowners through service projects and essential home repairs.
6. Girls on the Run combines running events with lessons to help girls be healthy, confident and enhance problem solving skills.
7. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and other healthcare facilities accept volunteers for longer-term commitments.
8. Animal groups like PAWS, ASPCA and ACCT take volunteers for keeping shelters clean, animals walked & exercised and more.

Readers, how are you helping on Giving Tuesday? What local nonprofits did we miss?

Photo: Giving Tuesday Facebook Page

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher