SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — From Black Friday to Cyber Monday, the days after Thanksgiving mark a marathon of shopping.
But on Tuesday, it’s all about giving back.
Sara Mitchell spent part of her Tuesday volunteering at EmBe.
“It’s Giving Tuesday, so it seems like the thing to do,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell and other volunteers helped pack totes full of supplies for Girls on the Run, a youth development program.
“We are putting together different envelopes with different activities and things the girls can do when they’re doing this program,” Mitchell said.
Volunteering your time is just one way to support nonprofits on Giving Tuesday.
Donations are also critical.
“Today is a vital fundraising day for EmBe and all of our programs that we have going on,” EmBe marketing and communications manager Mikena VanLiere said.
Those programs include child care, Dress for Success, and more.
EmBe’s fundraising goal this Giving Tuesday is $40,000, but a match could add up to $20,000 more to the total.
“Thrivent is matching donations. For every two dollars that’s donated, they will amplify it by one dollar,” Van Liere said.
While volunteers like Mitchell gave back to EmBe on Tuesday, she’s also received help from one of EmBe’s programs.
“It was about five years ago or so I participated in the EmBe Women’s Leadership Program and it helped me with my career immensely because at the time I was trying to figure out which way to go in my career and what what my future was and since then I feel like it’s helped me and I learned a lot of skills in the program I still use today,” Mitchell said.
Click here for a database of hundreds of other nonprofits taking part in Giving Tuesday.
