5 Arlington Nonprofits To Support This Holiday Season

ARLINGTON, MA — If you’re like many of your Arlington neighbors, you may spend a good part of the holiday season with your credit card in hand buying gifts for family and friends. Coming up soon is a chance to give back to the local community.

Giving Tuesday, which in 2024 falls on Dec. 3, is a day dedicated to supporting nonprofit and community groups. Since 2012, nonprofits worldwide have used the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to galvanize fundraising, rally volunteers and add momentum to their causes.
Maintaining funding is a constant challenge for many nonprofits that fill gaps and meet other needs in the Arlington area.

Here are five local nonprofits to consider getting behind on Giving Tuesday:

1. Arlington EATS: The market is a combination of The Arlington Food Pantry and the original Arlington EATS. The two joined forces in 2017 in an effort to eliminate food insecurity in town. The original Arlington EATS was a summer lunch program for families who rely on school lunch programs to feed their children. The nonprofit is located at 117 Broadway.
2. Arlington Center for the Arts: The town's community arts center is sponsored by the Mass Cultural Council. It offers classes, workshops, exhibits, and performances of various artistic mediums.
3. The Furniture Trust: The Furniture Trust on 54 Mystic St. conducts furniture removals and then transfers them to local schools, community organizations, and other nonprofits.
4. GiveBackTime: Founded in 2011, The volunteer organization provides useful software for nonprofits to gather and track data.
5. The Children's Room: The Children's Room is headquartered on 1210 Massachusetts Ave. and focuses on grief support for families, schools, and organizations through support groups and programs. In its 31st year, it serves approximately 1,500 people annually.