Thanksgiving is now followed by the two largest shopping holidays of the year; Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 10 years ago, #GivingTuesday was started to encourage kindness and shift the focus from ourselves to our fellow man. The goal is to inspire every day Americans to support the people and causes they care about. We’re all in this together, so let’s make it a little easier for each other.
Whether you have money to give or not, we can all do something to help each other out today and this holiday season. It can be as simple as making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, volunteering your time, or donating old clothes. Every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to give.
According to the Mayo Clinic, volunteering reduces stress and increases positive, relaxed feelings by releasing dopamine. By spending time in service to others, volunteers report feeling a sense of meaning and appreciation, both given and received, which can have a stress-reducing effect. It also increases social interaction and helps build a support system based on common interests.
If you are able to give some of what you have to those who need our help, please consider checking out these local nonprofits.
For a list of Lake County nonprofits, click here and here.
For a list of McHenry County nonprofits, click here or here.