The Story

You indulged in food and shopping. Now, it’s time for #GivingTuesday.

Break it down.

Since 2012, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the US has been a day to celebrate giving to others and charitable work. And it's not just a one-day thing. Consider it a friendly encouragement to do good throughout the whole year. So where to start...

For when you've got a little extra time on your hands...

Use it. Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community. You could give your time to a soup kitchen, a food pantry, park cleanup, or a community garden. Some places let you drop in. Others you have to schedule in advance or provide a background check to prove you’re not a creep. Make sure you know the requirements before you go.

Resources to get your started if you want to donate time:

• Feeding America

• JustServe

• Create the Good

• Compartir es Vivir

For when you've got mad skills...

Share them. If know how to code, are good with kids, or are an amazing chef, use your skills to help others. Be a giving Yoda: helping you should do. Also, many opportunities can be remote. So if you feel more comfortable behind your laptop, this might be the ticket for you.

Resources to get you started if you want to give your skills:

• Catchafire

• United Way

• VolunteerMatch

For when you've had a good year and want to share the wealth...

Look at you, you little charitable do-gooder. Money makes the world (and charities) go ‘round. If there’s a particular charity you’ve been eyeing, make sure you do your research on how the donations are used. If you’re not looking for a specific charity, check out a site like GiveWell – it’s already done the background check so you can rest easy knowing your donation will be well spent.

Resources to get you started if you want to donate $$$:

• Charity Navigator

• GiveWell

• theSkimm's Guide to Gifts that Give Back

theSkimm

#GivingTuesday is about giving however you want. So, regardless of how you decide to give, you’ll be making a difference.