Tuesday, November 28th is Giving Tuesday here in Canada and across many parts of the world. Giving Tuesday was originally created by a group of NGO’s, including Canadahelps.org as a counterpoint to Black Friday (the busiest day of the shopping season), and ‘Cyber Monday’. It’s easy to get swept up in all of the spending this time of year, but it’s important to remember that there are many ways to give. Here at Green Action Centre we want to share with you some of the many ways of giving that not only don’t harm the environment, but may also do good for it! 

Recently, the Winnipeg Foundation conducted its Vital Signs survey and we were so encouraged to see that the citizen priorities regarding sustainability in Winnipeg are reflected in nearly all of the programs we offer here at Green Action Centre. We thank the Foundation for recognizing us in this process and we will continue to offer innovative and meaningful sustainability programs and solutions that make an impact in our community! 

“We have two days that are good for the economy. Now we have a day that is good for the community too.” – Giving Tuesday’s website.

What is Giving Tuesday?
Giving Tuesday is an opportunity for all Canadians to give back to their community. It is a charitable movement aimed at bettering our community in a number of ways, and Canadians are asked to give back however they can. This may be through financial donations, but both Giving Tuesday organizers and Green Action Centre recognize that this may not be an option for everyone. If you are not able to donate financially, you may be able to donate your time to a good cause. 

Donate to Green Action Centre!
Click here to make a year-end charitable donation and/or Become a Member of Green Action Centre.

  • All donations over 10$ are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.
  • Members (20$) receive voting privileges at our AGM and discounts at our events.

Volunteer!
Volunteerism is a key asset to many non-profits and registered charities. Green Action Centre is no exception. Our organization is run by a volunteer board, and calls upon its many other volunteers to assist us in reaching our mission of promoting greener and better living here in Manitoba. Contact jaret@greenactioncentre.ca to get more involved in our organization. 

What will my donation to Green Action Centre be used for?
Green Action Centre’s programs all work directly with ANCHOR HERE to explore and share real, tangible, ways of greening their lives and communities. Our programs focus on Active Transportation, Waste Reduction and Green Living. We provide useful tips and resources on how to incorporate green strategies into your day to day lives at home, work and/or at school through hosting events, providing hands on resources, engaging with our community providing real life solutions to some of the worlds biggest problems. You can learn more about the awesome work we do by exploring our website and reading our latest annual impact report from the 2016-2017 year.

To start your Giving Tuesday off right, ask yourself how you can give back. Some great ideas we’ve heard of in previous years:

  • If you are in the service industry, consider donating half of your tips on Tuesday.
  • Challenge your coworkers to pool cash donations and reward them with baked goods.
  • Share important posts and messages from causes you care about.
  • Instead of purchasing holiday gifts for loved ones, consider making a one time cash donation to a charity in their name.
  • Share your giving with all your networks. Use ##GivingTuesdayCa on your social network of choice to help bolster this important movement. Giving can be very contagious!
  • Have your office give up their daily coffee/tea regime and put the money saved to good use – like a donation to Green Action Centre!

To give to Green Action Centre, visit our CanadaHelps page here to make a donation, or become a member of Green Action Centre by signing up here. And of course, if you’d like to volunteer with us, reach out to our Office Coordinator: jaret@greenactioncentre.ca.

Other ways to give back to your community
You could also consider donating non-perishable items to a local food bank, or a gently used bicycle to a community bike shop. Local thrift and second hand stores also take donations of used goods and clothing. This not only helps those less fortunate, but also lessens the stress put on our environment by reducing waste and over-consumption.

Let the giving begin!

Countdown to Giving Tuesday 2017

GivingTuesday Countdown