Last Tuesday was Giving Tuesday an internationally recognised date which celebrates generosity in communities within 50 countries around the world. It started in 2012 in New York and the day was chosen to align with the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, to put a focus on supporting not for profits and charities.
Local Generosity in Focus
There is certainly a lot of generosity to celebrate in our local area. So many local people give their time, goods or money to support really valuable projects, programs and services through local, national and international organisations and charities.
For those of you in the community who do this, you will know that this generosity brings personal benefits – it feels good to give whether it is the connections you have made in volunteering or the real joy you have given to someone else through a donation of goods or money. A 2008 report from the Harvard Business School found evidence of this in a study that found that giving money to someone else lifted participants happiness more than spending it on themselves (despite the participants predicting the opposite).
This has not been the easiest year for many, but if you have the energy or resources to give back in this festive season, there are plenty of ways to do that locally that will help strengthen our community.
Supporting the Financial Hardship Fund
One way that you can give back to those struggling with the cost of living in our area is through the Community Foundation’s Financial Hardship fund. Donations to this fund are directed strategically to programs like Hope N Help that provide food and other necessities to community members every two weeks. Funds are also directed through the welfare teams at the Primary and Secondary schools in our district to support students who can’t afford uniforms, equipment or camps. Some funds are also directed into Family Season Passes at the Mirboo North Swimming Pool.
Families at the Heart of Giving
“Family Season Passes for the Pool cost $170 and give huge value to local families who don’t have the means to access our local pool regularly, or at all,” explains Ruth Rogan, Executive Officer. “It is forecast to be a hot summer and donations can enable families to meet friends, swim and have fun at the pool for the whole summer.”
If you are interested in finding out more about the Financial Hardship Fund, you can call Ruth Rogan on 0418 301 092 or email ruth.rogan@mirboodistrictfoundation.org.au.