Thanksgiving may be over, but there are still many things to be thankful for. How about paying that feeling forward?

Today, Dec. 1, 2020, is Giving Tuesday, a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and world. Since its inception in 2012, Giving Tuesday has grown into a global movement that inspires people to give back, to collaborate, and celebrate the good.

If Black Friday and Cyber Monday have run you dry, we’ve got several ideas for you to give back without spending a dime:

• Volunteer Your Time – Volunteers play a valuable role in most nonprofit organizations by freeing up time, space, and finances for other areas. Consider volunteering at your local homeless shelter or other non-profit agency with a mission that aligns with your own.

• Contribute Your Skills – If you have a special or professional skill, consider offering your services for free (or for a reduced cost) to someone in need or to a local charity or non-profit organization.

• Donate Blood – Consider donating blood to a local or national blood bank in your community. Blood is something we all have and that healthcare facilities and hospitals always need. Check to see if you qualify to give blood by contacting a blood donation center near you. You can begin at https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html.

• Give Gently-Used Items – Many charities and non-profit organizations accept gently-used items to pass on to their clients of people in need. Most of us have way more stuff than we need anyway, so why not consider passing your item along to someone who might get much more use out of it? Items to consider could include clothes, furniture, toys, or even used cars can oftentimes be donated to local charities and organizations. Contact your favorite local charity organization to find out what they need!

• Use a Charity Credit Card – Many credit card companies offer charity rewards cards, which donate the rewards you earn to an organization of your choice. This costs you nothing extra but benefits a non-profit or organization when all those little cents adds up. You can even look up your favorite retailers or shopping websites, which sometimes have rewards programs that benefit a charity of your choice.

As your non-profit electric cooperative, we encourage you to GIVE WHERE YOU LIVE. This helps support the communities where we serve, live, and work together. To learn more about Giving Tuesday, visit www.givingtuesday.org, or contact your favorite local charity or non-profit organization. Together, we can make a difference!