Sonya Bernard-Hollins, Publisher
Photo by Community Voices intern Brittany Kay-Ann Click
editor@comvoicesonline.com
*Header: Roger, a board member of Tree of Life School is one of the area organizations which depend heavily on donor contributions. www.tolschool.org
First there was Black Friday. Then Local Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Now, get ready to get into the true spirit of giving with #GivingTuesday! The Tuesday after the biggest shopping day of the year has turned into a way to give thanks to the many organizations that help out in the community all year. http://givingtuesday.org/
Whether its the Homeless Relief Campaign Initiative www.homelesscampaign.org providing Right Response First Aid kits to the homeless, or the Black Arts and Cultural Center www.blackartskalamazoo.org providing outstanding cultural activities to the community, there is always an organization that needs continued financial support.
For decades Volunteer Kalamazoo www.volunteerkalamazoo.org (formerly Volunteer Center of Kalamazoo) connects the community with hundreds of nonprofit organizations that need a hand at doing everything from animal rescue to advocating for youth. The organization joined the #GivingTuesday campaign in hopes to get the word out to Kalamazoo about giving this holiday season – both in time and gifts to the organization.
“We are fortunate to live in a unique community where volunteerism is highly valued and supporting the local community is of the utmost importance,” said Jennifer Nemecek, president of the Board of Directors of Volunteer Kalamazoo. “We buy local and with #GivingTuesday campaign we are hoping to encourage others to give local.” Volunteer Kalamazoo will be getting into the spirit of giving by sharing ideas for random acts of kindness throughout the day on Tuesday through their social media outlets.”
Because this is a new initiative many nonprofits are not connected with #GivingTuesday. If you search the site and they are not there, don’t fear, visit their site and donate or contact their director letting them know, you support their contributions to the community and want to give them a gift which will allow them to continue their good work in the community.
Click on the links to these area nonprofits to help them continue their mission of serving others. Also, feel free to email me the link of an organization not mentioned in order to include them as well.
Let’s all give back before we open our own gifts!!
send your link to: editor@comvoiceonsline.com
www.blackartskalamazoo.org -The more than 25-year-old Black Arts and Cultural Center believes engaging people of all backgrounds in arts, culture and history are critical to a strong community.
www.communityhomeworks.org– Community Homeworks is a 501(c)(3) Non Profit organization with a focus area of Kalamazoo County, Michigan.
Our mission is: To live out the love of Jesus Christ through community development that produces and sustains dignified housing for low income families, a strategic network of good neighbors and the sustainable development of communities.
(www.fairfoodmatters.org)– Fair Food Matters works to improve the physical, economic and social health of the community through local food.
www.GilmoreCarMuseum.org– The Gilmore Car Museum is a public, 501(c)3 non-profit educational institution, dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of the American automobile.
www.homelesscampaign.org– The Homeless Coalition provides much-needed First Aid kits to the homeless.
www.kazoodc.org – the Kalamazoo Deacons Conference is a 501(c)3 that has been helping the most vulnerable in our community for more than 40 years. We provide clothing, houshold items and financial assistance at NO COST. In addition, most recently we have been called upon to assist victims of the Northwind Apartment fire.
