In 2013, Americans spent $2.375 billion on food for Thanksgiving dinner. They spent $12.3 billion on Black Friday in stores and another $2.29 billion on Cyber Monday. And these same Americans gave $19.2 in online donations on #GivingTuesday.

We have a day for giving thanks. We have two days for getting deals. Now, we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. The concept is simple. On December 2, families, individuals, businesses, communities, companies and others identify the charity of their choice, go online and donate to causes in which they believe. Through social media, participants can share how they have participated.

There are many ways you can participate in #GivingTuesday. Let me share some examples:

• Spread the message using social media. Share posts, photos and stories of giving back now through Giving Tuesday
• Skip the selfie. Take a photo of yourself with a sign saying how you give back. Share it via social media and tag it with #unselfie
• Contact the United Way of Sheboygan County Volunteer Center to find out how you can give of your time this season and throughout the year
• Make an online donation to your charity/charities of choice. We welcome donations online at uwofsc.org/donate

I have so much to be grateful for this year: a wonderful family that I am fortunate to spend time with regularly, a great job that challenges and fulfills me, a warm home and plenty to eat. I hope that you all are as fortunate, but this is not always the case. United Way of Sheboygan County is making strides to improve the lives of Sheboygan County’s residents.

• More than 50% of children in the Sheboygan Area School District qualify for free or reduced lunch. To better provide nutritional meals to the children that need them, the Summer Meal Program served an average of 550 breakfasts and 750 lunches per day of operation in 2014.
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teenagers in Sheboygan County. By collaborating with other community partners, we are working to improve access to, coordination of and education about mental health.
• The difference between children that are ready for kindergarten and those who are not is 30 million words. Through regular home visits from a trained parent educator, we are teaching parents to begin preparing their children for school and career from birth.

#GivingTuesday is a movement you can participate in however you choose. I hope you’ll partner with United Way of Sheboygan County in our efforts to improve the lives of Sheboygan County.