7 Ways to Support #GivingTuesday in Metro Detroit

Volunteers give their time to Forgotten Harvest, which along with Gleaners Community Food Bank will receive matching funds of up to $25,000 from MGM Grand Detroit on Giving Tuesday.

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Here are seven ways to give in Metro Detroit on Giving Tuesday, a global day of philanthropic giving and volunteerism that follows retail shopping events Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.

No. 1 and No 2: Gleaners and Forgotten Harvest

One way to have a big impact is by supporting Forgotten Harvest and Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeast Michigan, which work to end food insecurity in the region.

On Giving Tuesday, MGM Grand Detroit will match $20 for every donation to either Forgotten Harvest or Gleaners, up to $25,000.

“It’s through combined efforts like this that we can raise awareness of food insecurity in metro Detroit and ideally live to see the day when everyone has access to the healthy foods needed to carry on a productive life,” Forgotten Harvest CEO Kirk Mayes said in a statement.

Gleaners estimates at least 40 percent of the people served by the organization are children, and that 300,000 children in Southeast Michigan receive school meals and often go without food during the weekends. These donations will make a big impact on combatting hunger in Southeast Michigan.

“During cold winter months, many people struggle to pay the heat bill and keep food on the table,” Gleaners President Gerry Brisson said. “When forced to choose, food usually loses and people go hungry.”

Other charities that are participating in Giving Tuesday, which traces its roots to the 92nd Street Y cultural center in New York City, include:

No. 3: Make-A-Wish

Make-a-Wish Foundation is using Giving Tuesday to spotlight some of the seriously ill children waiting to have their wishes granted.

“On Giving Tuesday, we will share the wish journeys of wish kids Sunny, 8, who wishes to go to Atlantis to swim with dolphins and wish kid Ashley, 18, who wishes to go on a shopping spree to Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts and the Apple store,” spokeswoman Sherri Collins told The Detroit News. “We will ask people to donate to Make-A-Wish Michigan to help make more wishes like theirs come true for Michigan kids.”

No. 4: Jewish Community Center of Metro Detroit

The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, a first-year-participant in Giving Tuesday, is collaborating with The Bottomless Toy Chest, a Birmingham-based charity that provides toys to children in local hospitals. Toys have already been collected and will be wrapped from 3-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the JCC. Refreshments, arts and crafts, and other activities are planned as part of the wrapping party.

The JCC also suggests donations to a fund that grants more than $600,000 annually in scholarships to support and engage the community. More about JCC’s Giving Tuesday campaign can be found here.

No. 5: The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is seeking donations to fun food, shelter and other needs for the least fortunate Metro Detroit residents on Giving Tuesday. Monetary donations can be left in the red kettles outside stores, but toys, clothing and canned goods are also needed and may be dropped off at Salvation Army centers. Or, text SALMICH to 41444 to donate by smartphone.

No. 6: Michigan Youth Arts

As it has for the past two years, Michigan Youth Arts of Ferndale. an alliance of 16 statewide education associations, is leveraging the power of social media on Giving Tuesday. On its Facebook page, donors are asked to post “UNselfies” about their donations, along with hashtags #GivingTuesday, #unselfie and #GiveToMIArtsEd.

Also, she said, Giving Tuesday offers some balance to the “immense pressure on people this time of year to purchase things.”

“While we all want to celebrate the holidays and recognize our loved ones, giving to charity allows both donors and nonprofits to create good in the world,” Dorais said.

No. 7: United Way of Michigan

United Way of Michigan is participating in Giving Tuesday for the third consecutive year and is teaming with the CrowdRise platform’s Giving Tower to raise $25,000 to provide 30,000 more meals and healthy activities at the charity’s Meet Up and Eat Up sites.

Tell Us

• What charities are you supporting on Giving Tuesday, and why? Help your neighbors help others.