Today is Giving Tuesday — the globally celebrated day for giving back to your community through gifts + monetary donations.

Last year, Giving Tuesday brought in an estimated $3.1 Billion in twenty-four hours in the US alone. That's a 15% increase over the prior year + a 25% increase since 2020.

There are hundreds of Midlands nonprofits that you can give to today. You might already have one in mind, but if you’re not sure where to start:

Search for the list of participating local nonprofits on Giving Tuesday’s website.
See a community-sourced list of nonprofits in Richland County + Lexington County via SCIWAY.
Head to the local Midlands Gives’ Discover Nonprofits page to search for local nonprofits, filtered by county or your area of interest.

The Blood Connection’s brand new donation center is now open at 5141 Sunset Blvd. in Lexington | Photo provided

5 ways to participate in Giving Tuesday that don't involve a monetary donation.

Pay it forward
While you're already grabbing a local cup of Joe, go ahead + buy one extra coffee and pay for the person behind you.

Volunteer
We just updated our Volunteer guide. Donate your time, talents, or knowledge to a local nonprofit.

Donate items
Explore dozens of local food pantries and donate food for those experiencing food insecurity.

Use your platform
Giving Tuesday offers a social media toolkit, including graphics, posting ideas, and sample captions for several platforms.

Give blood
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, one donation of blood can save up to three lives. Find a Blood Connection nearest to you and donate blood.

If all else fails and you find yourself busy today, don't underestimate the power of a compliment or picking up the phone to connect with someone. A few nice words can help a person more than you think.