Think local on #Givingtuesday

T hursday people across the nation spent the day giving thanks and eating a couple of extra helpings of turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie.

And then many people fueled by this dinner and possibly any leftovers from it converged on local malls and stores in search of the best Black Friday and Small Business Saturday deals available.

Today, the techsavvy shoppers clicked their way through possibly more savings available on Cyber Monday.

Hopefully, people have a little extra left for #Givingtuesday, which this year lands on Nov. 28.

Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, according to www.givingtuesday.org, and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #Givingtuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Since its inaugural year in 2012, #Givingtuesday has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy with events throughout the year.

In 2016, #Givingtuesday broke a record with $168 million in charitable donations worldwide, according to USA TODAY. While not close to the $3.45 billion generated on Cyber Monday last year, support to charities via #Givingtuesday increased 44 percent in 2016. It would be incredible to see continued significant growth in this new path in giving.

The #Givingtuesday website has a list of ideas to help people and their organizations get involved as well as participating organizations. Take a look and if you see one give.

But this is a great chance also to give locally to non-profits and other organizations that need our support to continue their good work.

Editorials in The Porterville Recorder are the opinion of the editorial board which consists of Assistant Publisher and Managing Editor Brian Williams. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily of The Recorder.