The holiday season is the perfect time to reflect on what we have and also a chance to give back. Days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday are days when we prioritize ourselves and don’t really think about disadvantaged families who can’t afford to buy clothes or electronics. The Tuesday after Cyber Monday is known as Giving Tuesday and has grown into a global movement. It is devoted to fundraising nonprofit groups and helping with food drives. It is also a day to encourage random acts of kindness.

The inspiration for Giving Tuesday was based on giving back and not consumerism. The social media based movement wanted to shift the holiday spirit from getting to giving. Last year’s Giving Tuesday raised over $117 million dollars. There’s also a hashtag called #GivingTuesday where people can share their acts of kindness on social media. This is hopes of encouraging others to do the same.

“I think it’s important to give back to the community,” said junior Darnell Jean-Louis.

Even celebrities are participating this year. Alicia Keys and Michael Phelps auctioned items off and donating the money to charity. A simple way for you to participate is to search for nonprofits in your area and volunteer. Payroll giving is also becoming common where you can donate a part of your paycheck to charity and make the difference in someone’s life.