With less than a month until Christmas, there’s still time to make a donation to or seek help from The Burlington County Times’ annual “Give A Christmas” initiative.
WESTAMPTON — First comes Thanksgiving. Then come some of the biggest retail days of the year: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. And after that comes Giving Tuesday, perhaps the most uplifting and altruistic days of post-Thanksgiving spending.
The rising Giving Tuesday tradition started out in 2012 at the 92nd Street Y, a community center in Manhattan, and the United Nations Foundation in response to the prevalence of consumerism the week after Thanksgiving. The idea quickly spread on the internet, making Giving Tuesday an ideal time to donate to nonprofit groups and important causes during the holiday season.
Since its invention, it has continued to grow even bigger every year. Last year, the holiday raised $380 million for organizations around the world, a 38% increase from 2017′s Giving Tuesday, according to Nonprofits Source. The average online donation averages to $134, and Facebook and Paypal were the most commonly used platforms for donations. The top causes over the past seven years have been included public and societal benefits, human services, education, health, environment and animals.
As the season for extra charitable giving kicks off, it’s also a chance to contribute to the Burlington County Times’ Give A Christmas initiative, which helps families in the region enjoy the holiday season during a time when financial demands become even more stressful for those who are income-strapped and struggling to make ends meet.
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“When the holidays come, parents who are already struggling to pay the bills feel a need to stretch even further to create a magical Christmas for their little ones,” said Sue Ross, communications and marketing manager at NJ 2-1-1, the BCT’s partner organization for Give A Christmas this year. “For many hard working families in our state, that’s just not possible.”
Right now in Burlington County, there’s a family who has been dislocated by a house fire. There’s a family who recently lost a parent and is struggling with grief. There’s a parent recovering from addiction getting a fresh start trying to make things right with their family.
There is still plenty of time to help out on the campaign, and provide a happy holiday for countless families who have reached out to 2-1-1 for help from Give A Christmas. Donations for this year’s Give A Christmas can be made through Dec. 13, and any donations contributed after that date will be applied to next year’s Give A Christmas.
Through last year’s Give A Christmas campaign, $57,350 was distributed to hundreds of families. The GAC campaign raised about $3 million since its inception in 1968. Some years, the program raised as much as $100,000 for families in need.
Those who would like to donate can send their donations to the Give A Christmas Fund, PO Box 70260, Philadelphia, Pa. 19176-9703.
Donations must include the donation form, which can be found in print in the daily newspaper or downloaded online at burlingtoncountytimes.com/GiveaChristmas. Secure online donations can also be made on that same page. Donations made after December 13 will be applied to the 2020 Give A Christmas program.
Those who wish to seek help from the Give A Christmas campaign can do so by texting GAC to 898211. Requests will be accepted through Dec. 6. Appilcants should text “GAC” to 898211 and follow prompts to complete the application process. Those who are eligible will be required to provide photo identification, a copy of a social security card or birth certificate for each eligible child, proof of income and address.
NJ 2-1-1 can be reached at 211, 24 hours a day all year.