Is it just me or did the Christmas hype start way too early this year? I realize that Thanksgiving is a bit later than usual, but it seems we went straight from jack o’lanterns to Christmas trees.
I’m not a fan of decorating or shopping for Christmas until after Thanksgiving. I’m not even a huge turkey fan, but I believe we should respect the bird. Plus Biz turns 5 on Thanksgiving this year. When he was born (after going into labor on Thanksgiving evening) I vowed not to let the craziness of Christmas seep into the house until we appropriately celebrate his birthday and Thanksgiving.
With that said, we’re about to hit that “giving” season where we’re constantly hit with sales at ridiculous hours of the day to buy things we mostly don’t need. Black Friday. Cyber Monday. You know the deal.
Last year I told you about the first annual #GivingTuesday. Well, it’s back this year with a ton more partners and social media ambassadors (including myself). You can also submit a story of impact.
So what’s #GivingTuesday? Here’s the description from the website:
We have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals. This year help us create #GivingTuesday. A new day for giving back. On Tuesday December 3, 2013, global charities, families, businesses, community centers, students and more will come together to create #GivingTuesday.
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. Be a part of a national celebration of our great tradition of generosity.
Last year, Over 2,500 charities, volunteer organizations, corporations and foundations came together in all 50 U.S. states to inspire people to be philanthropic on #GivingTuesday. The result was a more than 50% increase in online donations compared to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving the previous year.
Not too shabby.
In the spirit of #GivingTuesday, I thought I’d share how one of my favorite nonprofits is celebrating the day:
Rally for WaterAid to #doubleit on #givingtuesday
A generous WaterAid supporter has challenged us to raise $50,000 on December 3rd. If that goal is made the money will be doubled. Doubled! Considering the amazing conversations we had on this blog about the importance of toilets and sanitation for World Toilet Day last week, I’m thinking some of you might be game for this challenge. Just make your donation, however much you can, between 12 am and 11:59 pm EST on December 3rd. Find out more about Wateraid and the campaign
You might also be interested in a new report Wateraid just released with its partners, the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, and Unilever’s leading household cleaning brand, Domestos. We can’t wait highlights “the stark consequences that the lack of toilets and good hygiene practices have for women and girls.”
Anyone can be involved with #GivingTuesday. Whether you tweet about it, give money or volunteer your time for a nonprofit, I hope you will take a moment to celebrate generosity.
Will you participate in #GivingTuesday?
Speaking of World Toilet Day, today is the last day to enter to win a $200 Lowe’s gift card!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I hope everyone participates in #GivingTuesday! I am tweeting it!
Thanks, Michelle!
I absolutely LOVE #GivingTuesday. I think it is one of the BEST ways to bring attention at the holidays to worthy causes. I will definitely be sharing this right now! :)-Ashley
Thanks, Ashley! I love how people have embrace #GivingTuesday.
I don’t blame you one bit: not celebrating Christmas until after Thanksgiving and it’s so respectful to your kiddo.
And yes, I noticed that, too! It seemed like we went from black and orange at the grocery stores to red and green on Nov. 1st. Crazy!
Love this post – you’re incredible. 🙂
Thanks, Cyndi. I hate feeling rushed this time of year. It will inevitably happen, but I like to take my time and rush at the very end. 🙂
So awesome! #GivingTuesday! Everything is all about Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday, etc. Sunday is resting, I suppose. Tuesday it is!
The space between the holidays is getting smaller, according to stores. I do admit that we have a tradition to get our tree on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Some people give us weird looks, but since we normally travel all Thanksgiving weekend and then go right back into school/work, this tradition has taken hold.
Whatever works for your family, Tamara. I like that you have the tradition. My neighbor just starts putting Christmas stuff up in the beginning of November because he doesn’t want to do it when it’s colder. We’ll have gourds on the table until this weekend!
I love this post and #GivingTuesday!
Diana
http://www.ManhattanImageandStyle.com
New Blog Post: How to Save Money This Holiday Season
Thanks, Diana. I hope you will celebrate too!
The only reason I’m putting the tree up Thanksgiving weekend is because I got new air fresheners from Bath and Body Works that smell like a tree and I want it to blend. I donated, this is wonderful!
Well if you put the tree up this weekend, it’ll technically be after Thanksgiving, so you’re good there. And you’re ahead of the game for #GivingTuesday. Excellent!
Yes, I plan on participating 🙂
And yes, the Christmas hype did start early. :/
Excellent, Amber. It’s kind of hard to not participate, isn’t it?
Not a fan of the Christmas hype, but I’ll have fun decorating with the kids after Thanksgiving.
YAY for Bizz’s birthday!!! And I don’t touch the x-mas decor until after Thanksgiving either. I love the idea behind GivingTuesday. BRILLIANT! I will make sure to participate! XO
I have no doubt you will, Chris!
Sign me up for #GivingTuesday! This sounds like the perfect opportunity to take my girls shopping for the Angel Tree! Sharing this out Jennifer!
Sounds like the perfect way to spend #GivingTuesday, Nicole!