#GivingTuesday Lets You Help Make A Difference
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Now that you've wrapped up your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping, it's time for Giving Tuesday. For the fourth year, organizations focus on giving back to the community.
Tracey Leong has more on how easy it is for you to make a difference in many lives.
Giving Tuesday has raised more than $86 million worldwide. It's a global movement kicking off the charitable season.
'Tis the season for spreading joy. Jerome Brewer is busy filling the "Giving List" at the American Red Cross of the Greater Chesapeake Region, joining the global movement that encourages kindness.
"It was really created as an opportunity for people to give back to charities and nonprofits," said Brittany Fowler, American Red Cross.
The executive director the Y launched Giving Tuesday in 2012.
"We've never needed more than six words. There was always Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, and people would really say, 'Yeah, I think that's a good idea,'" said Henry Timms, Giving Tuesday founder.
The holiday celebrates generosity, guiding people to give back to their communities.
"They're actually all over the country. People started to bring their own ideas to Giving Tuesday and started to grow it," said Timms.
Businesses in Baltimore also celebrate Giving Tuesday. OrderUp is donating $1 to feeding America for every meal purchased.
Banditos in Federal Hill is one of the many restaurants participating in OrderUp's charitable mission.
"When you are fortunate as we are to have a successful business, it's great to take those opportunities to give back," said Brad Hendricks, Banditos general manager.
The movement has 40,000 partners worldwide, showing people the true meaning of the holiday spirit.
"Should really be about giving. It shouldn't be thinking about what you can get, but what you can give," said Hendricks.
Since 2012, online donations on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving have increased by close to 500 percent.
