Giving Tuesday: 5 Bridgewater Nonprofits That Could Use Your Help

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — There’s no single way to show generosity on Giving Tuesday, which falls on Tuesday, Dec. 2, this year, but several nonprofits in Bridgewater are counting on end-of-the-year donations and support.

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday all focus on consumerism, while the idea behind GivingTuesday is to galvanize fundraising, rally volunteers and add momentum to their causes.

Since 2012, nonprofits, community and grassroots groups, and mutual aid networks worldwide have used the #GivingTuesday hashtag to encourage fundraising, rally volunteers and add momentum to their causes, according to the nonprofit of the same name behind the movement.

Local nonprofits remain heavily dependent on donor support. Charitable contributions increased 2.9 percent from June 2024 to June 2025, according to the Fundraising Effectiveness Report analysis.

Notably, although total dollars raised have increased, year-to-date performance among supersize donors has been softer than in 2024, making small contributions more important than ever.

In the United States, Giving Tuesday is led by hundreds of communities, networks and coalitions.

Here are five nonprofits in Bridgewater that depend on community support (donations should be made directly to each of the nonprofits below):

1. Somerset Regional Animal Shelter— Providing rescue services and care for animals in need, the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter takes in nearly 1,0000 animals each year. This organization helps to find loving adoptive homes for animals and offers affordable spay and neuter services. Donations go towards the cost of food, supplies and medical care for animals at the shelter. Learn more at srasnj.org.
2. Visions and Pathways — Since 1970, this organization has been dedicated to supporting abused, homeless and at-risk youth in the Bridgewater area. Visions and Pathways offers programs for housing, wellness and mentoring in addition to their outreach programs. Learn more at visionsandpathways.org.
3. Safe+Sound Somerset — Helps survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence with compassionate, trained professional help. Assistance is offered 24 hours a day – 7 days a week – 365 days a year at 866-685-1122. Our Helpline is the gateway to survivor-centered services that provide safety, hope and healing from the trauma of abuse and violence. Learn more at safe-sound.org.
4. Somerset County 4-H — Since 1968, the Somerset County 4-H has been dedicated to helping young people become responsible, compassionate and capable members of the community. This organization offers clubs, events and camps for school-aged children. The annual Somerset 4-H Fair is an opportunity for club members to practice their leadership skills and show off their hard work. Learn more at 4histops.org.
5. The Food Bank Network of Somerset County — The mission of The Food Bank Network is to distribute food and provide other basic human needs to those less fortunate in our community in a manner recognizing and advancing self-worth and human dignity. Working through our warehouse-pantry in Bridgewater and satellite food pantries, our goal is to help feed and provision people in need until they become self-sufficient. We aid any Somerset County residents requesting help who either find us directly or are referred by public and private county agencies. The Food Bank Network is a non-governmental, non-sectarian, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public benefit organization. Learn more at somersetfoodbank.org.

The Giving Tuesday movement encourages “radical generosity,” the concept that the suffering of others should be as intolerable to us as our own suffering, according to the movement’s website.

Giving Tuesday was created in New York City in 2012 with a simple goal: to encourage people to do good. Over the past nine years, the idea has grown into the global movement it is today.

Last year, Giving Tuesday participants raised a record-breaking $3.6 billion from 36.1 million participants, bringing the total raised on the day since 2012 to $18.5 billion.