South Dakota nonprofits look forward to ‘Giving Tuesday’

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – While many took advantage of shopping deals over the weekend or even on Cyber Monday, Tuesday is a big day for nonprofits across the country and especially in South Dakota.

Giving Tuesday is a holiday tradition that takes place the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It dates back to 2012 and it’s a chance for the community to give back to the organizations that do so much for them.

On the South Dakota gives website you will see a list of these 400 plus organizations that range from animal shelters, to libraries, to food pantries.

Many of these organizations, like the Pierre Area Referral Service, allow donations to either go to the general fund or a specific service.

The nonprofit, celebrating fifty years of operation, has several services that provide food for those in the community, and executive director Corwin Jones says giving Tuesday creates a strong bond among participating organizations.

“That solidarity is nice, because you’re working with people that are in your situation and having that support gives you strength,” Jones said.

For Call to Freedom, an organization that aims to prevent sex trafficking, the money donated will of course provide food and clothing, but also much more.

“Financially the obstacle of not only meeting these material needs, providing them with safety, housing, case management, licensed occupational therapy and the host of services that they need to heal, it can be a big call to action,” Rachel Schartz, Call to Freedom Director of Grants Management said.

The nonprofit hopes to have over 100,000 dollars raised in 2024 by the end of the year.

Call to Freedom also wants to remind readers that trafficking never slows down and it becomes even more prominent by relatives during the holiday season.

It’s important to be able to recognize the signs of trafficking which include malnourishment and a lapse of memory for things such as the day of the week.

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