So last week we had a little intro to Giving Tuesday, and even a bit about how the Family Dinner Project has partnered with Giving Tuesday this year  🙂  Well, this week we’re going to talk a little more about it… because it’s tomorrow!

Giving Tuesday is a day dedicated to true giving, right on the heels of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  It is for giving in whatever way we can, and to teaching our kids and family members to give too.  A lot of us get excited for Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping but there is so much more to this week of thanks and giving than the great deals to be found!

The mission of Giving Tuesday is to boost humanity rather than to boost the economy.  Started by 92Y and the United Nations Foundation in 2012, last year over 10,000 organizations from around the world took to social media to help raise awareness and funds for important causes of their choice.

So, how can you participate this year?  Tomorrow, on Giving Tuesday (always the Tuesday after Thanksgiving), give time or money to a cause, group, or even directly to a person you care about.  Donations to big companies and causes are great!  But it is also so meaningful to think outside the box and bless someone you know who needs a helping hand.  So many people are in great need for so many reasons, all over the world.  GiveForward is the perfect place to learn about wonderful causes you can support right from home.  Check out the Shah’s fundraiser for one important example!

Please don’t feel like this isn’t for you, if this year finds you unable to give financially.  Small acts of kindness go along way too! Here are ten ideas for giving that you can start on right away – at no cost to you  🙂

1) Help your neighbors

2) Read up on ways to pay it forward

3) Teach kids character building life skills

4) Go Christmas caroling for sick or elderly people

5) Invite someone over for dinner

6) Smile at strangers

7) Offer to babysit or otherwise assist an adoptive family

8) Be there for a single mom

9) Pray for persecuted Christians around the world

10) Educate yourself on human trafficking to be better prepared to help

So remember to wake up and be awesome tomorrow – give your heart out on Giving Tuesday!  I’ll be right there with you celebrating the difference we can make, together – after all, “the willingness to share does not make one charitable; it makes one free” – Robert Brault – And you know how I feel about freedom!  😉  So let us live free and love big!  Be sure and share your Giving Tuesday moments with us by using the hashtags #GivingTuesday and #GiveForward.

Now on to the linkup!  🙂

Make A Difference Mondays is a weekly linkup designed to encourage and inspire us to live each day on purpose—making a meaningful difference in someone’s life in even the smallest of ways. There will be five women regularly co-hosting this link-up that will appear on all five of our blogs and we also have three wonderful co-hosts who will fill in as guest hosts on the occasional day that a regular co-host is not able to post. Read on to learn more about our vision, mission, and how to link up!

Every Monday we will invite bloggers to link-up any blog posts that encourage women to live life on purpose. This could include testimonies or goals from your own life, small acts of kindness or service, creative tips or ideas for showing consideration to others — the possibilities are endless. Our objective is to use our God-given time and resources to His glory!

Are we friends on facebook yet?  If not, what are you waiting for?  

LINK UP YOUR POSTS HERE:

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