Looking Forward to The Holidays: What is Giving Tuesday All About?

September 13, 2024
2:09 am

Every year, as the holiday season approaches, a special day exists that reminds us how important it is to give back to our communities. Giving Tuesday, is a global movement that unleashes the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

The Purpose and History of Giving Tuesday

Created in 2012, the idea behind Giving Tuesday is simple: encourage people to do good. After the rush of shopping, this day serves as a reminder that the holiday season is also about generosity and community spirit. It’s an opportunity for individuals, businesses, and organizations to come together to support the causes they care about most.

Giving Tuesday is not just about monetary donations; it’s also about volunteering time, donating goods, advocating for causes, and performing acts of kindness. The day’s emphasis on community and collaboration highlights the idea that everyone has something to contribute, whether it’s time, resources, or talents.

The Growth and Impact of Giving Tuesday

Since its inception, Giving Tuesday has grown into a global phenomenon. In 2012, the movement started with a simple concept, create a day that encourages people to do good. That first year, people from all over the world participated in the movement, leading to a groundswell of support that has only continued to grow.

Over the next decade, Giving Tuesday would evolve into a global generosity movement, inspiring hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. The day has supported a myriad of causes, from local community projects to international relief efforts, demonstrating the collective power of people to create real change.

How Giving Tuesday Works

Giving Tuesday is driven by individual participants and organizations who decide how they want to engage. Here’s how you can get involved:

Individual Giving: Whether it’s donating money to a favorite charity, volunteering time, or simply spreading the word about the importance of generosity, individuals play a crucial role in the success of Giving Tuesday. Social media platforms are often flooded with stories and calls to action, using the hashtag GivingTuesday to connect with a global audience.
Nonprofits and Charities: For nonprofit organizations, Giving Tuesday provides a platform to highlight their work and engage with new and existing supporters. Many organizations plan special campaigns or events to coincide with the day, leveraging the increased awareness and enthusiasm to boost their fundraising efforts.
Businesses and Corporations: Many businesses participate in Giving Tuesday by matching employee donations, organizing volunteer activities, or donating a portion of sales to charity. This not only helps the causes they support but also fosters a culture of giving within the organization.
Communities and Networks: Community groups, schools, and networks often organize local events or drives to support Giving Tuesday. These efforts can range from food drives to community clean-ups, emphasizing the idea that every act of generosity counts.

Giving Tuesday and Philabundance

At Philabundance, the largest Feeding America food bank serving Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, we work to fight food insecurity in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. Since 1984, our mission has been to drive hunger from our communities today and end hunger for good. To achieve this mission, we rely heavily on the support of volunteers, charitable gifts from donors, and work with community partners. One of the most significant opportunities to mobilize this support comes each year on Giving Tuesday.

The Role of Philabundance in Hunger Relief

Philabundance addresses hunger through a variety of programs that provide food to those in need while also working on long-term solutions to fight food insecurity. These programs include:

Food Distribution: Philabundance supplies food to a network of over 330 community partners, including food pantries, shelters, and emergency kitchens.
Philabundance Community Kitchen: A culinary arts job training program that provides students with the skills needed to secure stable employment while also producing meals for those in need.
Partnerships with Local Farms and Grocery Stores: Philabundance programs like Retail Rescue help to secure surplus food from farms and grocery stores, reducing waste and providing fresh, healthy food to those in need.

Giving Tuesday is a pivotal day for Philabundance, as the global movement of generosity provides support for our neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

The Impact of Giving Tuesday

The impact from our supporters on Giving Tuesday creates a profound impact on our mission. The charitable gifts received on this day helps to sustain our programs throughout the year, ensuring we can continue to provide food and resources to those in need. Some of the specific impacts include:

Increased Food Distribution: The funds raised and the volunteer hours contributed on Giving Tuesday enable Philabundance to distribute more food during the holiday season and beyond. This is particularly crucial during the winter months when the need for food assistance often increases.
Expanded Programs: Giving Tuesday support allows Philabundance to expand existing programs and launch new initiatives.
Enhanced Awareness: The heightened visibility and awareness generated on Giving Tuesday help to attract new supporters and build long-term partnerships. This expanded network of supporters is vital for sustaining Philabundance’s efforts year-round.
Strengthened Community Ties: The collaborative spirit of Giving Tuesday fosters stronger ties within the community. Volunteers, donors, and partners who come together on this day often continue to support Philabundance in various ways throughout the year.

Giving Tuesday is a powerful day of action and generosity, and for us, it represents an invaluable opportunity to rally support for the mission of ending hunger in the Greater Philadelphia area. Through the generosity of our volunteers, donors, and advocates,Giving Tuesday is a chance for us to come together and make a lasting impact.

If you’re wondering “When is Giving Tuesday in 2024?”, it is on Tuesday, December 2nd. As we look ahead, as in previous years, the continued success of Giving Tuesday will be instrumental in driving hunger from our communities and ending hunger for good.

Want to support us in our mission to end hunger? Consider donating to us. Whether it’s a one time gift or monthly donation, you can help make a difference for our neighbors facing hunger.

Philabundance Awards 49 Member Agencies with Capacity Grants

June 18, 2025

Philabundance has announced $250,000 in 2025–2027 Capacity Grants for 49 member agencies across Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. This funding will provide the operational capital needed to allow organizations to remain flexible and able to adapt to changing needs.

From faith-based institutions in Delaware County to social service agencies meeting the needs of diverse families across Philadelphia County, the 2025–2027 Philabundance Capacity grantees are among the hundreds of organizations that partner with Philabundance to support the more than 600,000 individuals in our region experiencing food insecurity.

The grantees include

Bucks County: Bucks County Opportunity Council; Faith Baptist Church
Delaware County: Blessed Virgin Mary; Loaves & Fishes; Prayer Chapel Church of God in Christ
Mercer County: Prince of Peace Center
Montgomery County: Bethel Community Church; ElderNet of Lower Merion and Narberth; Grace Lutheran Norristown; Love Works Resource Center; Mitzvah Circle; Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard; Patrician Society
Philadelphia County: African Family Health Organization; Alexander McClure Elementary School; Bebashi; Bethany Missionary Baptist Church; Breaking Bread on Broad; Bright Hope Baptist Church; Broad Street Love; Brothers of Strawberry Mansion; Calvary Agape Outreach Services; Casa Del Carmen; Cast Your Cares; Christ Apostolic WOSEM; Community Center at Visitation; Episcopal Community Services; The Family Practice & Counseling Network; First Church Worship Center; Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry; Grace Community Christian Center; Kensington Health Sciences Academy; Lutheran Settlement House; Mighty Writers; Mi Salud Wellness; Nationalities Services Center; North Light Community Center; Old Pine Community Center; Open Door Ministries; Our Brothers Place; Paul L Dunbar School; Project H.O.M.E.; Southwest Family Service Center; St. Paul Outreach; Word In Action International Ministries
York County: Bethlehem Baptist Church; Mattie Dixon Community Center
Southern New Jersey: Puerto Rican Unity for Progress; SisterHood Inc.

Philabundance Capacity Grants help improve each organization’s ability to operate more efficiently and deliver effective food distribution programs and services. To date, $4.4 million dollars in Philabundance Capacity Grants have been allocated for capacity-building infrastructure, such as refrigerators, freezers, refrigerated vans and technology to empower community partners and improve the food distribution network.

“As federal resources continue to shrink and hunger remains a distressing reality in the Greater Philadelphia region, community-based nonprofits are often a lifeline for families in need of healthy food,” said Loree D. Jones Brown, CEO of Philabundance. “Investing directly in our partners and their infrastructure allows us to swiftly and efficiently meet the needs of thousands of our friends and neighbors experiencing food insecurity.”

“Breaking Bread on Broad is [very] grateful for the new refrigerators we will be able to purchase with our Philabundance grant,” said Dan Seltzer, co-leader of Breaking Bread on Broad (BBoB). “Breaking Bread on Broad is the food pantry of Congregation Rodeph Shalom whose mission is to provide our neighbors in need with food, diapers and period supplies each week. With this grant, we will be able to provide our BBoB neighbors with more fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein to better feed their families.”

“With this funding, Casa Del Carmen will invest in critical hardware—such as commercial refrigeration, durable shelving, metal prep-table and mini hand pallet jack—that will enhance the efficiency and reliability of our food pantry operations,” said Janet DeJesus, office manager at Casa Del Carmen. “These improvements will allow us to store more fresh and nutritious food, reduce waste, and serve our neighbors more quickly and with greater dignity. By strengthening our infrastructure, we are not only improving daily logistics but also deepening our commitment to food security and community well-being.”