Every year we have so many "days" around the holidays - Black Friday, Green Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday to name a few! On December 3rd, I'll celebrate Giving Tuesday! I encourage you to actually celebrate this one, unlike Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This day is designed to help spread the love this holiday season to the organizations that support us all year long! There are so many organizations that work year round to protect our forest, pass laws banning pipelines, and host neighborhood clean ups - they deserve a holiday gift as well! Donating to nonprofits is hugely important so let's all take a day to support them.
Not everyone will be in the financial position to donate money this Giving Tuesday, but if you do, I have a few ideas of groups to donate to! I picked these groups because of their commitment to environmental activism, justice, and the fight against the climate crisis. With the holidays being a time of hope for me, these groups represent the chance I have to create a beautiful, habitable planet for the generations to come.
All of these organizations also have local groups that you can volunteer with! I will often choose to donate my time with a project rather than just money, so I recommend you look into that too. A little can go a long way, so your donation is appreciated no matter the size!
1. 350.org
"350.org was founded in 2008 by a group of university friends in the United States along with author Bill McKibben, who wrote one of the first books on global warming for the general public, with the goal of building a global climate movement. 350 was named after 350 parts per million — the safe concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Our first actions were global days of action that linked activists and organizations around the world, including the International Day of Climate Action in 2009, the Global Work Party in 2010, Moving Planet in 2011. 350 quickly became a planet-wide collaboration of organizers, community groups and regular people fighting for the future."
"We're building an army of young people to make climate change an urgent priority across America, end the corrupting influence of fossil fuel executives on our politics, and elect leaders who stand up for the health and wellbeing of all people."
3. Green Peace
"Greenpeace is a global, independent campaigning organization that uses peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future."
"Black Urban Growers (BUGS) is an organization committed to building networks and community support for growers in both urban and rural settings. Through education and advocacy around food and farm issues, we nurture collective Black leadership to ensure we have a seat at the table.
In November of 2009, Black Urban Growers began organizing and hosting a series of community events with the purpose of starting a conversation around food: Where does it come from? Who is providing it? Why don’t we see more Black farmers at the farmer's markets? What is the relationship between our individual health and the health of our communities, and why does it matter?"
"Led by former US Vice President Al Gore and CEO and President Ken Berlin, we do it by empowering everyday people to become activists, equipped with the tools, training, and network to fight for solutions and drive change planet-wide.
The result is over 20,000 Climate Reality Leaders mobilizing communities in over 150 countries. Branches in 10 critical nations and regions around the Earth. 100 activists chapters (and growing) pushing for practical clean energy policies across the US."
"The Black Farmers Collective is a group of urban food system activists dedicated to providing opportunities to improve the health of our communities through all aspects of the food system. We are growers, sellers, preparers, educators and eaters. Our vision is based in the need to keep a place for African American leadership on the land, the Kwanza principal of cooperative economics, and the realization that mitigating the climate crisis requires action to support local production, carbon sequestration, and natural habitat creation."
"Achieving Zero Waste plays a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It saves natural resources. Less waste means less plastic pollution and fewer toxic chemicals in our environment. We seek to make systematic changes that have lasting impact. This means we work on laws and programmatic changes rather than focusing on individual behavior change. Zero Waste Washington protects people and our natural world by advocating for products designed and produced to be healthy, safe, and continually recycled and reused. We are the public’s voice for zero waste."
8. Sierra Club
"We know actions speak louder than words. That’s why we’ve built a national community of volunteers, advocates, and grassroots activists who show up when and where it counts. Our supporters have the tools and resources to make themselves heard in nearly every district in every state across the country. From securing protection for 439 parks and monuments, to winning passage of the Clean Air and Endangered Species Acts, to putting over 281 coal plants on the path to replacement with clean energy, to securing the right of every kid in America to visit a national park, we have an unmatched record of success and impact."
9. Your Local Food Bank
Food banks are a key part of our communities and offer our neighbors more food security. Because food banks run off of donated and collected produce, they reduce food waste and help distribute food to those that will consume it.
10. Any of your local groups taking action!
This year I am donating to a local event space, Town Hall, that is fundraising in order to give all attendees under 22 years of age FREE tickets! Making sure the all youth have access to events in so important for creating a system that is socially just and inspiring more people to get involved in our community. I went to see Naomi Klein speak at Town Hall, so hopefully more youth will get that chance to!
Who are you supporting this year either financially or by volunteering?