With Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday over, it’s now time to turn attention to local nonprofits for Giving Tuesday.
According to the Giving Tuesday website, the global effort was started in 2012 “as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good.” It began at the 92nd Street Y and its Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact in New York City. Giving Tuesday is now an independent nonprofit and a global movement. While many nonprofits host Giving Tuesday campaigns, the website also encourages people to help a neighbor, make someone smile, show up for people you care about or give some of what you have to those who need help, as “every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to give.”
Below is information from several area nonprofits needing some help this holiday season. To have your organization added to our online list, email ncooke@sedaliademocrat.com
Open Door
With a simple reoccurring monthly donation of $20 as a Hunger GEM (Giving Every Month), you can help serve 1,800 meals from the Open Door soup kitchen and nearly 2,000 families a month from the pantry. This can be set up at www.opendoorservicecenter.org. Open Door has a goal to raise $5,000 on Giving Tuesday.
Volunteers are always needed at the thrift shop, pantry, and kitchen. Call Jenn at 660-827-1613 to sign up.
Also, Open Door has teamed up with Tyson Foods and the Sedalia Parks and Recreation Department to collected nonperishable food items from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 as cars drive through Liberty Park for Light Up Liberty.
Cancer Perks
Cancer Perks is in the middle of its #12needsOfChristmas campaign. Needs can be found on the Cancer Perks Facebook page.
Cancer Perks is also are gifting all patients from Bothwell Regional Health Center and Fitzgibbon Hospital who are receiving treatment on Christmas Eve with a Christmas Dinner and a gift. Sponsorships of these meals are $100 and details can be found at www.cancerperks.com or Cancer Perks social media channels.
Center for Human Services
Donations given on Tuesday, and year-round, provide funding for individuals to live “Life without limitations,” the mission at CHS. This year, CHS has received some help ahead of Giving Tuesday. The Marcum family has been long-time supporters of CHS. Gary Marcum has received services from CHS since he was a child and retired from the CHS sheltered workshop. He now attends the Garlich Activity Center in Sedalia.
The Marcum family, including siblings Jileen Wingerter and Jim Marcum, are providing a $1,000 match in honor of Giving Tuesday donations. Donations can be made at chs-mo.org/givingtuesday.
Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri
When schools closed in mid-March due to the pandemic, Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri began putting a plan in place to open its summer program two weeks early to assist working families with childcare. When schools reopened in September, Boys & Girls Club purchased extra supplies for members to help stop the spread of germs and increased its Power Hour homework help program to make up for summer learning loss.
Boys & Girls Club is now asking Sedalia residents to help do whatever it takes for members to succeed.
The Whatever It Takes Campaign, led by Tyson Foods, aims to raise funds for literally whatever it takes to make sure Club members are successful. A monthly gift of $10 can assist with virtual learning, help improve reading skills or even ensure members receive a healthy snack after school. Thanks to a generous matching gift from Tyson, all gifts can be doubled, up to $10,000. Donations can be made at www.bgckids.com/invest or by calling the Club at 660-826-8331.
United Way of Pettis County
The 2020-21 United Way of Pettis County campaign is in full swing.
It is the intention of the United Way of Pettis County to assist local not-for-profits in generating more revenue for their missions by continuing its invested solutions to hunger, childhood development, and mental health/substance abuse disorder initiatives.
There are several ways to give: employer payroll deduction, credit card donations through www.spcuw.org, checks made payable to United Way of Pettis County (3615 W. Broadway Blvd. Suite 307 Sedalia, MO, 65301), or by texting PETTIS to 269-89.
Sedalia Senior Center
Care Connection for Aging Services, which operates the Sedalia Senior Center, is in need of large and x-large Depends/adult briefs, liquid dish and hand soap, and sanitizing supplies for Pettis County seniors. The Center also recycles plastic grocery bags and assistive devices (walkers, wheelchairs, commodes, etc.). For more information, contact Joy Guymon, Care Manager of Pettis County, at 660-826-0713.
CASA
CASA is taking a different approach this Giving Tuesday as the staff is inviting CASA supporters to join CASA in its mission. CASA will be giving away empowerment necklaces to every individual who makes a $10 donation through the CASA Facebook page on Giving Tuesday. The necklace is meant to be a reminder to the individual wearing it that they are loved, strong, beautiful, and valuable. The idea is to incorporate the spirit of giving by giving the gift of empowerment to those who contribute to CASA’s mission. The donor can also give this necklace to a friend, loved one, or elect to have CASA gift their necklace to a domestic or sexual abuse survivor.
For more information, visit casa-sedalia.org or visit the CASA Facebook page.
