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Countries worldwide, including many across Europe, took part in #GivingTuesdayNow yesterday (5 May).
The extra day of global giving and action was launched by Giving Tuesday in response to the Coronavirus crisis with the aim of driving philanthropic action among individuals and businesses in support of first responders, non-profits, and community organisations supporting those affected by the global pandemic.
It encouraged people to show their generosity in a variety of ways. Suggestions for action included supporting healthcare workers by donating supplies, advocating for them, and staying home, giving to organisations people care about, helping small businesses by buying gift cards or writing an online review, and reaching out to a neighbour, relative, older person or veteran. Due to the pandemic, the day emphasised opportunities to give back to communities and causes in ways that comply with public health guidelines.
A dedicated #GivingTuesdayNow website gave more information on how to participate as well as a toolkit and other resources for non-profits. It also features a map highlighting acts of generosity around the world, inviting people and organisations to join in through sharing their own stories. It shows a number of initiatives in countries across Europe, such as the FortheGood Project from the BCause Foundation in Bulgaria, which is raising money to buy protective clothing, ventilators and other medical equipment, and Italy’s Fondazione Lene Thun Onlus, which is also fundraising to support its country’s hospitals during the crisis.
Commenting at #GivingTuesdayNow’s launch, Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday, said:
“As a global community, we can mourn this moment of extreme crisis while also finding the opportunity to support one another. We each have the power to make an impact with acts of generosity, no matter how small, and to ensure the sustainability of organisations and services that are crucial to the care and support of our communities.
“#GivingTuesdayNow is a chance for us to stand united and use grassroots generosity to show that we are all in this together, beginning to end. Even as many face financial uncertainty, generosity is not about size. Every act of kindness is not only a beacon of hope, it’s a critical act of civic and social solidarity.”
#GivingTuesdayNow was an extra event, and the traditional annual GivingTuesday will still take place on 1 December 2020.
