We Gave this Giving Tuesday

Murphy and I donated our gift to Animal Friends

By now you’re probably sick of the Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday deals begging you to come and spend your money – but please don’t completely tune out.  Today is a great day, and the perfect way to kickstart your holiday season.  That’s right, today is Giving Tuesday – an international day of giving designed to bring the focus of the Christmas season back to charitable giving.  (I say Christmas because I’m Catholic, but that in no way means that I discount Hanukkah or other holidays at this time of the year).

Before you bust out your checkbooks or swipe your credit cards, there are a number of ways to participate in Giving Tuesday.  It’s not all about cash.  I’m a big fan of The Three T’s – donating your time, talent and treasure.  When we think of donating or charitable giving, we often think of the last T, our treasure or hard earned money.  It’s not the only way to make a difference though.  You are filled with different talents that you can use to make a difference in other people’s and animals’ lives.  Today knitters around the world are knitting for the homeless, for premature babies, and animal shelters – using their talents and their time in a way that makes a big difference.

Yesterday Murphy and I hopped into the car to drive out to Animal Friends, a local animal shelter here in Pittsburgh, to make our donation of gently used and brand new dog toys and care items, as well as our handmade hats and dog sweaters, that we have whipped up over the past month.  Take some time to google search around, or listen to the radio, to learn about different Giving Tuesday Initiatives in your area and make an effort to make a difference this Christmas Season.

A little bit goes a long way.

Any purchases of our patterns today will be donated to a local animal shelter.