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<p>Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday.</p><p>After a seemingly week-long celebration of consumerism, Tuesday was a day to think of others.</p><p>Giving Tuesday, now in its fifth year, was founded by the Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact and is now used by many area nonprofits to stimulate holiday charitable donations. It encourages nonprofits to use new and social media to drive donations.</p><p>&#8220;Giving Tuesday &#8212; at its heart &#8212; reinforces the season of giving, which essentially starts around Thanksgiving,&#8221; said Jim Brogna, vice president of Advancement &amp; Communications at Allied Services. &#8220;Our staff and supporters already contribute significant time, talent and treasure within our organization and in the community, so we hope to extend awareness to others through our social media posts.&#8221;</p><p>Brogna said the willingness of area residents to give during the hectic holiday season provides an opportunity for those in need to enjoy what others might take for granted.</p><p>&#8220;For example, breakfast with Santa hosted by our pediatric team provides patients and their families a chance to enjoy not only a meal, but a visit from Santa and a gift,&#8221; Brogna said.</p><p>He said the gifts were not only heartfelt, but appropriate for their young recipients.</p><p>&#8220;If a youngster has a physical challenge, we seek to provide them with something they will be able to truly enjoy,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Kathy Bozinski, of the Wyoming Valley United Way, is also hoping Giving Tuesday will be a reminder of needs that continue throughout the holiday season and year.</p><p>The United Way, through its Imagination Library, provides an opportunity for donors to give the gift of reading to children. The program provides a book each month to enrolled children until they reach the age of 5.</p><p>The only requirement for membership, Bozinski said, is for parents to sit down and read with their children. She said a donation of $30 in a loved one&#8217;s name will enroll a child for an entire year, providing them with multiple books and hours of imagination and adventure.</p><p>&#8220;We will notify the &#8216;gift&#8217; recipient that you have made the donation in their name,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Gene Brady, executive director of the Commission on Economic Opportunity, said shortly after the organization did its massive Thanksgiving food giveaway, the CEO announced its participation in Giving Tuesday.</p><p>Brady said funds received during Tuesday&#8217;s effort and continuing throughout the holiday season would be directed to the alleviate childhood hunger through the Weinberg Foodbank.</p><p>He points out that hunger and malnutrition not only mean hungry children, but a decrease in health, cognitive development and success at school.</p><p>&#8220;What&#8217;s important is for people to give to others in need,&#8221; Brady said. &#8220;We, of course, accept financial donations, and we also welcome volunteers.&#8221;</p><p>The CEO will also be sponsoring a &#8220;Christmas Together,&#8221; a Christmas Day meal held in conjunction with the First Presbyterian Church in Wilkes-Barre.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Emily is surrounded by her favorite books which she received for free through the United Way of Wyoming Valley&#8217;s Imagination Library. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_giving2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Emily is surrounded by her favorite books which she received for free through the United Way of Wyoming Valley&#8217;s Imagination Library. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_TTL080115UnitedWayChristmasInJuly_1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Some of the funds collected by the Commission on Economic Opportunity through the holiday season will go to alleviate childhood hunger through the Harry &amp; Jeanette Weinberg Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Food Bank. Bill Jones, executive director of the United Way, is shown here filling boxes for those in need. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_TTL080115UnitedWayChristmasInJuly_1-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Some of the funds collected by the Commission on Economic Opportunity through the holiday season will go to alleviate childhood hunger through the Harry &amp; Jeanette Weinberg Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Food Bank. Bill Jones, executive director of the United Way, is shown here filling boxes for those in need. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | for Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p>Organizations involved in Giving Tuesday generally continue to accept donations throughout the holiday season and throughout the year.</p><p>A partial list of opportunities to donate locally include:<div><ul><li>The Commission of Economic opportunity at http://www.ceopeoplehelpingpeople.org/ or 570-826-0510.</li><li>King&#8217;s College at https://www.kings.edu/giving-to-kings/contact_us or 570-208-5972.</li><li>Allied Services at http://www.allied-services.org/giving/ or 1.888.REHAB.PA.</li><li>United Way of Wyoming Valley at http://www.unitedwaywb.org/dolly.html or 570-829-6711.</li><li>Volunteers of America, Ruth&#8217;s Place and other programs at 570-822-6817.</li></ul></div></p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Giving Tuesday kicks off season of charity