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Thankful on Giving Tues.

Even though the historical purpose of Thanksgiving is to acknowledge our good fortune, that has become secondary to many of us, as our comfortable circumstances allow us to look on the holiday as less of a day of thanks and more of a time to eat as much as we can possibly hold.
If that thought brought about a touch of indigestion, there’s a cure for that — give someone else something to be thankful for, and you can do it through the online donation event known as Giving Tuesday, when it goes viral on Tuesday, Nov. 29.
 Giving can be second nature to most, but there’s always that thought lurking in the back of your mind, “How will this help me?” It appears we have lost the meaning of giving. Yet, the world continues to give us opportunities to contribute to the welfare of those around us.
This Giving Tuesday, set aside that lurking thought and give simply because it’s the right thing to do. Give to a local nonprofit because all they do is give to others, often with no tangible reward.
In 2014, when Giving Tuesday was just a couple years old, the campaign estimated $46 million dollars in donations. The average donor contributed at least $100 dollars to this cause.
When I was growing up, I was always shown that giving is not all about money. It’s also about time and love. It’s the little donations, such as helping a stranger to his or her car, that make our hearts full.
And while those giving principals will always apply, today’s world is driven by commerce and dollar signs. The idea that someone is asking you for your money seems beyond ironic, but that’s where we’ve lost the idea of giving. It’s not about your money, it’s about what your donation can help more than 60 local nonprofits achieve for the audience they serve.
Take at least 5 minutes on Tuesday, Nov. 29 to find a cause or maybe even multiple causes that can donate to and stand behind. Remember that giving is not about receiving.
Visit www.ShoreGivesMore.org to donate, the link goes live starting at midnight on Giving Tuesday. In the meantime, visit the website for more details and save the date.
— Alexandra Jones
Worcester County Developmental Center