With Thanksgiving behind us, the season of giving is upon us. These days there is no shortage of ways to help others through public charity, giving that extends beyond our immediate families.
Already many area charities and nonprofit social service agencies are extending a hand, seeking donations for themselves or others.
In fact, today is being billed by many nonprofits as Giving Tuesday.
From The Literacy Project and Franklin County Community Meals Program to CISA and Friends of the Greenfield Public Library, today is chance for local charities to benefit from the season of giving.
Crowd-funding site Razoo is providing the host site for the annual collective online drive for organizations around the country.
Other area beneficiaries include Community Action, Just Roots, Center for New Americans, Food Bank of Western Mass., Dakin Humane Society, Mohawk Trail Concerts, North Quabbin Citizen Advocacy, North Star, LifePath, Greenfield Center School, Brick House Community Resource Center, Stone Soup Cafe and Musica Franklin.
And, if you were looking to donate to nonprofits not using Razoo, you could go to their website. For example, to give to Catholic Social Ministries, go through “Just Give.”
The crowd-funding events were created as an alternative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, to emphasize giving back to our community instead of buying things.
And as the Christmas ball gets rolling, World Eye Bookshop in Greenfield is already seeking book donations for holiday baskets that will be given to needy families.
Owner of F. M. Kuzmeskus bus company in Gill, Pam Reipold, gave that program a boost, donating enough cash to buy at least 35 new books, according to World Eye owner Jessica Mullins — and also put a donation box in the company’s break room for books and cash.
“Each year, we try to come together as a group to do something like this,” Reipold wrote in an email. “It’s a nice way to help out others in the community and it’s also a really nice way to come together as a ‘work family.’”
Until Sunday, those wishing to contribute to the drive can stop by World Eye and buy a book to be placed in holiday baskets for families receiving state services in Greenfield, and donors will receive 10 percent off their purchase.
“I think people need that — to have a strong sense of community and a strong sense that Greenfield and Franklin County are still strong and support each other,” Mullins said of the store’s charity.
And for decades now, Adopt-A-Family of Franklin County has made possible Christmas for families in need. The organization is looking for people to adopt families, but if you don’t feel you can this year, you can donate to cover the cost of food and necessities.
And this is just the start. There are scores of ways, big and small, that this county’s residents, rich and poor, help each other throughout this season of giving. Time to step up.