Salvation Army Lt. Mike Raes helps collect donated clothes to sell at the East Village thrift store. (Photo: Steve Dinnen)
By Steve Dinnen
Black Friday is right around the corner. But please consider saving some money for a more worthwhile cause. (And no: That’s not National Espresso Day, which is Saturday.)
Giving Tuesday lands on Nov. 26 this year. It’s one of the high holy days of what organizers call the global generosity movement, and it’s intended to inspire Iowans, Americans and people around the world to pitch in their time, skills, money and more to help others. The day shows that everyone has something to give, and every act of generosity counts.
Giving Tuesday started in 2012 as sort of a counterweight to Black Friday. The lore around its origin suggests that it started at the 92nd Street YMCA in New York as a way to pull focus from the rampant consumerism that often dominates the holiday season. And the new tradition has sparked some success: Organizers believe an extra $3 billion flowed into charity coffers in 2022 as a result of Giving Tuesday campaigns.
But it’s not just about cash. The American Red Cross uses Giving Tuesday to encourage folks to donate blood. The United Way of Central Iowa promotes many ways to celebrate the day by volunteering time and donating goods to local charities. Here are two specific efforts:
Hope for the Holidays. The United Way collects household cleaning products and housewares for Hope for Stable Families, a United Way program. This initiative supports families by helping them set goals, overcome barriers and tap community resources to help parents achieve long-term financial stability for themselves and their kids. You can find more information online, including suggestions for donating specific items.
Holiday Helping Hand. This is a guide to volunteering and giving opportunities that you can do with family or friends. The United Way works closely with local nonprofits to make it easy for everyone to get involved and give back this season.
And, of course, there’s always the Salvation Army. You can always drop some change in the bell ringers’ red buckets, which the nonprofit uses to help folks pay rent, utility bills and the like. The Salvation Army also runs a half-dozen thrift stores in Greater Des Moines and Ames, where they’re encouraging people to donate clothes on Giving Tuesday.
“If you have money, drop it into a kettle” said Salvation Army Lt. Mike Raes. “If you have a bag of clothes, bring it in.”
Revenue from the sale of donated clothes supports the Salvation Army’s 64-bed residential rehabilitation center above the thrift store on East Court Avenue. It houses men who are struggling with homelessness and drug or alcohol addictions, and provides them a place to work through a six- or 12-month rehabilitation program. It doesn’t cost residents a penny, thanks to community generosity on Giving Tuesday and throughout the year.
