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You celebrated Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and now it's time for Giving Tuesday! This holiday is all about giving back to causes that are near and dear to you, especially since the holiday season can sometimes bring out our materialistic sides. Read on for little ways you can make a huge difference today and all season long. 

Donate to fight pediatric cancers
If there's one thing to be thankful for during the holidays, it's your health. It's easy to forget that some kids just aren't that lucky, but the good news is that there are *a lot* of pretty awesome charities out there that are dedicated to fighting things like childhood cancer. Two great ones to consider donating to? St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Ronald McDonald House are both dedicated to research and caring for families affected by childhood cancers.

Think about your furry friends
With temperatures dipping below freezing in many areas, animals need a warm home now more than any other time of year. Today's the perfect day to talk to your parents about adopting a pet, but if that's off the table, think about donating your babysitting money or allowance to an organization like The Humane Society. 

Give an extraordinary gift
Don't have a lot of extra money on the side to donate? That's OK! There are tons of unique ways to show you care. Locks of Love, which has been in operation since 1997, accepts hair donations and turns the locks into wigs for children battling cancer. Check out their official website for detailed info on how it all works.

Make a small sacrifice
If you're lucky enough to eat three balanced meals a day, it may be sad to realize that not everyone can say the same. According to the Feeding America organization, "currently, more than 11 million children in the U.S. live in food-insecure households." That means that all of those kids don't necessarily know how or when their next meal is coming. Today, you can pledge to donate your lunch money to Feeding America, then brown bag it for the rest of the week or month. Just $1 can translate into 10 meals for underprivileged kids.   

Think about your community
You don't have to track down some huge organization to make a difference. If you're low on time or money today, think about your family, neighbors and classmates and ask yourself, "What can I do to help out?" Challenge yourself to do one act of kindness this Giving Tuesday, and if you really want to make an impact, keep that giving spirit alive all month long (and straight into 2020!). 

What are your plans this Giving Tuesday?

by Jacqueline F. | 12/2/2019