TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - After days dedicated to shopping, like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, local non-profits hope the community will give back on Tuesday.
Giving Tuesday began in 2012 as a way to celebrate generosity. The global social media movement came from an organization based in New York City. According to the website, about $45.7 million was generated in 2014.
A number of organizations in Tucson plan to participate, including the Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter. Often home to between 200 - 300 animals, adoption manager Ryan Twigg says the shelter is slowly falling apart.
The building was built in the 1950's and was designed as a home not a shelter, Twigg said. There have been issues with termites, and every time it rains parts of the shelter flood.
"The wood has been completely destroyed by weather and by termites," Twigg said. "Pretty much everywhere in the shelter you can stick your finger through it."
"We've always been apart of Giving Tuesday," Twigg said. "It's a huge, huge event for non-profits, especially us little guys out here."
Twigg says last year they began planning to rebuild the shelter, and it will cost more than $1 million.
"It's fun to go out shopping and the holidays are great," Twigg said. "It makes us all stop and think about the community, and all of the little organizations that are trying to do good in the community."
Tucson Values Teachers also aims to raise money on Giving Tuesday. Faced with slashed budgets and less resources, interim director Katie Rogerson says any donation to local schools can help.
"We like to wonder, what if everyone in this community, what if each individual gave $10 for teachers," Rogerson said. "How quickly that would add up, and what a huge significant impact it would make for teachers, and classrooms and students."
The Ten for Teachers campaign will help support teachers in Southern Arizona by buying school supplies and providing teacher trainings.
"We know for certain teachers, every year, spend upwards of $500 to $1000 out of their own pockets on just classroom supplies," Rogerson said. "They're giving a lot more than their time when they go to their jobs every day."
Rogerson said while the money is important, they want to raise awareness about how much teachers put into their classrooms. Even if it is only a small donation, she says, it makes a huge difference.
Here is a link on how you can donate to Tucson organizations.
