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Giving Tuesday, a global day of “radical generosity” meant to encourage people to give back and get involved within their communities, is taking place in just under two weeks on December 3—and your credit union has an opportunity to participate in the fun. After all, showcasing our shared People Helping People spirit is what credit unions do best!
This year, as a component of the Holiday Meals for Mainers initiative, Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger hopes you will help us provide the gift of a meal to neighbors in need through our Giving Tuesday fundraising. On December 3, the Campaign hopes to raise enough money to support our local food pantries and food banks so they can feed at least 1,000 people—an incredible amount during the cold weather of the holiday season!
Ways to Engage
There are plenty of fun and creative ways to join in on the charitable Giving Tuesday fun. If you would like to support the Campaign, you may opt to host a fundraiser in your branches. Similarly, you can direct members to your credit union’s unique fundraising URL on the Campaign’s website to encourage donations (please email Lauren Simonds (McCallum) if you need your URL). You can also take advantage of the Hunger Statistics in Maine page to simply spread awareness around the seriousness of hunger in our state. If you coordinate an in-branch fundraiser specifically for Giving Tuesday, please submit fundraising totals to Lauren Simonds and Jen Burke by the end of the day on Monday, December 9 so the League can determine if we have met our goal!
If you do not wish to contribute dollars to this effort, there are plenty of other ways you can get involved and support your community:
- Share this initiative on social media, in your newsletter, on your website, and via email communications. You could also display flyers in your lobby to inform members of Giving Tuesday, what it is all about, and how they can participate.
- Collect donations for the charitable cause of your choice on December 3; or, if you host a fundraiser in advance, present your donation(s) to the recipient(s) on Giving Tuesday.
- Pledge to match member donations on that day.
- Coordinate a canned/nonperishable food drive to benefit a local hunger relief organization.
- You may instead wish to coordinate another kind of supply drive, such as for local schools, homeless shelters, animal shelters, or other supportive community organizations.
- Coordinate a cold weather clothing drive for hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, jackets, thick socks, etc. to provide these items to those in need as the weather continues to cool down.
- Connect with a local school and send staff to educate students about financial literacy utilizing Maine Credit Unions’ turnkey, award-winning financial education curriculum for grades K through 8.
- Volunteer your time with a local organization (consider packing meals ahead of the holidays, spending time assisting at an animal shelter, serving meals at a soup kitchen, visiting a nursing home, and more).
- Solicit your members for participation in their charities and nonprofits of choice or encourage them to spread generosity.
- Perform random acts of kindness—either individually or as a credit union.
- Personally write and hand out notes and cards to friends, family, coworkers, and even strangers to brighten others’ days.
- Adopt a family for the holidays on your own or as an organization.
- Invite staff to write letters to soldiers overseas during the holidays who are missing home a little extra or send thank you cards to the incredible first responders who work hard to protect your community every day.
Sample Social Media Copy
Facebook, LinkedIn, & Instagram:
Happy #GivingTuesday, a global day of generosity meant to encourage people to give back and get involved within their communities! Over the next 24 hours, Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger is trying to raise enough funds to help local food pantries and food banks provide 1,000 meals. Fill the plate of someone in need today by donating at campaignforendinghunger.org/donate. #HolidayMealsForMainers #EndingHunger
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Happy #GivingTuesday, a global day of generosity to encourage people to give back within their communities! Today, the Campaign for Ending Hunger is trying to raise enough money to provide 1,000 meals for individuals in need. Donate today at campaignforendinghunger.org/donate.
Click here to download graphics to accompany the social media messaging.
Did You Know?
- Every $2 helps provide meals to a family of four—no donation is too small!
- 13% of Maine’s population is food insecure. This means 1 in 8 Mainers struggle to find room in their household budgets for food.
- 1 in 5 children are facing hunger.
- In 2022, Maine was ranked 21st in the nation (tied with two other states) and 1st in New England for household food insecurity.
The work our industry does to go the extra mile, uplift our communities, and improve the financial lives of Mainers is incredibly important. Join the League this Giving Tuesday in celebrating generosity and kindness towards all.