After the shopping frenzy this weekend, consider donating to a nonprofit on Giving Tuesday
These days, it feels like Thanksgiving weekend is a whirlwind, with Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday all back-to-back. But over the last decade, a global movement has arisen that asks people to slow down and give back to those in their community.
Established in 2012, Giving Tuesday is an international movement "unleashing the power of radical generosity." On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, folks are encouraged to give back to a local organization they are passionate about, conduct a random act of kindness for a fellow community member or think about how they can give back more throughout the year to come.
The News-Leader compiled a list of 13 different Springfield-based nonprofits asking for community support this Giving Tuesday. This list is not exhaustive. If your favorite nonprofits aren't on this list, reach out to them directly or visit their websites to learn how you can help support them.
Springfield Little Theatre
Springfield Little Theatre is celebrating Giving Tuesday extra this year with its Giving Event: Seasons of Love for SLT. The nonprofit theatre company is hosting a "Give-A-Thon" from Tuesday at 9 a.m. through Wednesday at 5:14 p.m., accessible on the Springfield Little Theatre Facebook Page.
The 1,934-minute "Give-A-Thon" will feature performances, interviews with Springfield Little Theatre casts and crew, games and giveaways. The nonprofit's goal for the giving event is $2,500.
More: In time for the holidays, Little Theatre closes preview night of 'Elf' to standing ovation
Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks
Race Brothers Farm & Home Supply is helping support the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks this year. On Tuesday from 6-8 p.m., the farm and home supply store at 2310 W. Kearney St. is hosting Ladies Night. Refreshments and special sale prices will be available for attendees. Raffle tickets will also be available for purchase for $5; all money directly benefits the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks.
Springfield Art Museum
The Springfield Art Museum is hoping to raise $2,500 by the end of Tuesday. This year, all money raised by the Giving Tuesday fundraiser benefits the museum's Family Art Lab and Book Nook, which provides free, interactive activities for children and their families. Donations can be made online at bit.ly/40QZVmo.
More: Here's what to know about the art museum's new exhibit, featuring human blood sculptures
The Kitchen, Inc.
For Giving Tuesday, The Kitchen, Inc. is launching its 600 Days of Housing campaign. Every $35 donated to the organization is equivalent to one day of housing and wraparound services for someone in the community. Donations can be made on The Kitchen, Inc.'s website.
Harmony House
Serving much of southwest Missouri, Harmony House is asking for community members to support domestic violence shelter, education and advocacy this week. This can be done by making a donation through the Harmony House Facebook Page or website, or just by engaging with the nonprofit's Giving Tuesday content on social media.
Outside of Giving Tuesday, Harmony House is also looking for extra support through the holiday season. The nonprofit is looking for folks to help sponsor holiday gift boxes for shelter residents. Boxes are customized for each resident. To learn more, contact Harmony House Donations Coordinator Lisa Christy at 417-771-3499 before Dec. 8.
Ozarks Literacy Council
Preparing for the new year, the Ozarks Literacy Council is looking for support to provide more accessible resources to the community.
The Ozarks Literacy Council offers free tutoring for school-age children, free books to elementary classrooms in the organizations' Reading Resource Program (Williams Elementary School, McGregor Elementary School and York Elementary School) and preschoolers enrolled in programs for lower-income families. The Reading Resource Program provides one volunteer reader to the same classroom once a month for at least 30 minutes for the entire school year. The classroom teacher chooses the book and each student gets to take that book home.
Monetary donations can be made on the Ozarks Literacy Council website. The organization is also always in need of in-kind donations, including colored printer paper, white and colored card stock, two-gallon zip-lock bags and bottled water.
More: 'The Bards of Moon City' features 11 local writers, benefits Ozarks Literacy Council
Springfield Symphony Orchestra
Donations made to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra this Giving Tuesday directly benefit its Seniors at the Symphony program. This program provides shuttle services from senior living communities to orchestra performances. Shuttle services are free and ticket prices are reduced for participants of the program. Donations can be made on the Springfield Symphony Orchestra website.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Springfield, Missouri is looking for donations this week to help fund projects through the holidays.
"Our home-buying partners cherish their very own space in which to build their holiday traditions," the organization states on its website. "Enough space to cook holiday meals and create lasting memories and experiences with their families and friends."
Donations can be made as an individual or as a team on the Habitat for Humanity website.
Ozarks Food Harvest
Ozarks Food Harvest is asking for help to "Transform Hunger into Hope" this Giving Tuesday. This year, the organization is looking to raise $60,000, which would provide more than 240,000 meals to the community.
Every $10 donated is equivalent to 40 meals, according to the organizations' website. Donors are able to select where they'd like their money to benefit, including the Weekend Backpack Program, Mobile Food Pantry, Senior Food Program or whatever is needed most. Donations can be made on the Ozarks Food Harvest website.
Ozarks Food Harvest is also asking for community support during its annual Check Out Hunger campaign. The holiday fundraiser kicked off on Nov. 1 and runs through Dec. 31. Folks can support the campaign by donating $1, $3 or $5 tax free at participating grocery stores. Since starting the campaign in 1998, Ozarks Food Harvest has provided more than $3.4 million meals for families throughout southwest Missouri.
This year's participating stores are Apple Market, Country Mart, Harter House, King Cash Saver, King Food Saver, Price Cutter, Ramey, Rhodes Family Price Chopper, Town & Country, Super Market and Woods Supermarket.
Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland
Each Giving Tuesday, Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland asks for support to help local girls "as they unlock boundless opportunities, regardless of their background, where they live, or their financial situation." This year, the organization's board of directors has agreed to match all Giving Tuesday donations up to $2,750. Donations can be made on the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland Facebook Page.
For folks interested in supporting the organization in a more specific way, Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland is always looking for items at its program center to benefit members and volunteers. A complete wish list is available on Amazon. Folks can also email donate@girlscoutsmoheartland.org to learn about what the organization is in need of most.
KSMU
Giving Tuesday at KSMU, Springfield's NPR-affiliate radio station, looks a bit different than other nonprofits in the area. Each dollar of a donation made to KSMU counts as a "vote" to another local nonprofit. The nonprofit that receives the most votes by the end of the day will receive a sponsorship package from KSMU. To learn more or make a donation on Tuesday, visit the KSMU website at ksmu.org/giving-tuesday-on-ksmu.
Good Dads
Aiming to provide fathers with inspiration and resources to be the best parents they can be, Good Dads is looking for support to expand its reach this holiday season. Since getting started in 2015, Good Dads has worked with more than 800 at-risk men and helped hundreds more become better fathers. One-time, monthly and annual donations can be made online at bit.ly/3ReswyK.
Humane Society of Southwest Missouri
Furry friends need extra support through the holiday season too. The Humane Society of Southwest Missouri is not looking to reach a specific goal this Giving Tuesday but is just looking for continual support, whether that be through a monetary donation or physical donations from its wish list.
Monetary donations can be made on the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri's website. To learn more about what gifts the center could benefit from this winter, visit the organization's online wish list at swh.org/wish-list.
Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield nonprofits ask for community support on Giving Tuesday
