WASHINGTON — You braved the crowds on Black Friday. You got online at 1 a.m. for Cyber Monday. Here’s another holiday to add to your calendar: Giving Tuesday.
The idea behind the holiday is simple: celebrate generosity, and give to those deserving of it. For a holiday gift to the person who has everything, make a donation in his name.
While there are many, many local organizations in need of donations, here’s a list of 10 to get you started. To find more, check out #givingtuesday on Twitter.
About 200 volunteer coaches throughout the District teach kids about teamwork, leadership and commitment through a combination of poetry and soccer in after-school programs. Donate here.
Thrive DC is a safety net for those without a job, home or even food. The organization serves more than 2,000 people in D.C. each year. Donate here.
SOME meets the daily needs of D.C.’s poor and homeless populations with food, clothing and health care. The organization helps to break the cycle of homelessness by offering services such as addiction treatment, affordable housing and job training. Donate here.
Girls on the Run works to inspire young women to take charge of their futures. The organization helps girls develop confidence in themselves and compassion for others through exercise, teamwork and community service. Donate here.
Little Blue House has a specific mission: To provide a safe, stable and healthy environment for vulnerable and at-risk kids in D.C. to learn and grow. You can donate to the organization as a whole here, or watch stories of individual kids in the program and donate to their college funds here.
Free Minds Book Club empowers incarcerated youth through book clubs and creative writing. Free Minds keeps in touch with young inmates through mentoring programs and support services, from the beginning of their sentence to their release and re-entry into their new lives. Donate here.
CASA offers many programs for low-income immigrants in an effort to improve their quality of life and build connections with others in their new communities. CASA has programs for health and human services, community development and engagement, English and adult education as well as vocational training. Donate here.
Doorways for Women and Families
Doorways provides services for women and families in Northern Virginia to escape domestic violence and break the cycle of homelessness. The program provides immediate and long-term safe housing and support services to those in need. Donate here.
Martha’s Table gives families access to healthy starts, healthy eating and healthy connections. The organization offers food and clothing programs as well as education and family support services. Donate here.
Freedom Alliance offers several programs that support and honor service members, veterans and their families. These include scholarship funds for children of service members as well as many appreciation events. For the holidays, Freedom Alliance has two programs: “Presents for Patriots” and “Gifts from Home.” Presents for Patriots helps military families in financial need make the holidays special for their children with donated toys and gifts. Gifts from Home sends care packages of much-needed items like prepaid calling cards, food and toiletries to deployed troops, along with greeting cards and notes of appreciation from those at home. Donate here.
