Give back on ‘Giving Tuesday’

Since 2012, the Tuesday following Thanksgiving has been recognized as a day of charitable giving.

The idea for the day was the brainchild of 92nd Street Y, a Jewish cultural and community center in New York, in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. Now more than 10,000 organizations worldwide have affirmed that 'nothing speaks more to the holiday spirit than a day dedicated to giving back.”

It has been estimated roughly $40 million has been raised for thousands of non-profits around the globe as part of 'Giving Tuesday,” formalizing the tradition of holiday giving that many households practice, and upon which our local non-profit groups rely.

Our area is home to several worthy groups which depend on donations to help them provide for our most vulnerable and needy neighbors and make our communities better places for us all.

Many provide holiday cheer to Iowa's youth, or to help families in need - worthy efforts. We'd also like to draw attention to an upcoming opportunity to support older adults, who often don't receive the attention they deserve.

The 'Fill the Plate” Telethon will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and will air on KCRG 9.2. The event helps the Heritage Area Agency on Aging feed at-risk older Americans throughout the Corridor.

Proceeds benefit the Senior Nutrition Home Delivered and Congregate Meal programs, which provided more than 384,000 meals last year in Iowa - partly funded by the more than $105,000 raised by the last telethon.

As Iowa's aging population grows, so does the need for these programs, which have suffered recent cuts in public funding. In the past two years, more than 125,000 meals were eliminated due to budget concerns. Six congregate meal sites were closed.

These programs, and the seniors they provide for, deserve our support. To make a tax-deductible donation today, visit kirkwood.edu/filltheplate. Any donation amount is welcomed.

Whatever your preferred group, we encourage everyone to take the time to support area charitable organizations today.

When you do, don't forget to take a photo and tag us on twitter: @GazetteInsights. As part of your tweet, add the hashtags #GivingTuesday and #unselfie and we will help spread the good news of generous hearts in Eastern Iowa - and perhaps encourage others to also give.

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