Today is Giving Tuesday, a worldwide day of generosity that takes place on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, the Black Friday launch of the holiday shopping season, and the Cyber Monday promotional effort that encourages people to shop online.

According to the Giving Tuesday website, the global movement began in 2012 in New York City at the 92^nd Street Y and its Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact. Giving Tuesday is now celebrated across six continents.

Many nonprofit organizations worldwide conduct fundraising campaigns that align with Giving Tuesday, and United Way of King County is no exception.

From today through the end of the year, United Way is hosting our Year-End Giving Campaign, titled “Hope Doesn’t Quit, Neither Do We.”

Hear United Way of King County chief philanthropy officer Anna Cronin discuss our Year-End Giving Campaign in a recent episode of United Way’s Hourglass Podcast.

Our campaign provides an opportunity for our community to support families facing hunger. Every donation makes a difference in giving groceries, hot meals, and emergency food assistance to our neighbors.

Our goal is to direct resources to nonprofit organizations that serve those most affected.

On this Giving Tuesday, we hope you will support five areas of work United Way conducts to address hunger and food insecurity:

• Our Home Grocery Delivery Program helps 4,000 households receive food and non-grocery items door-to-door each week. Through a partnership with Amazon, DoorDash, and dozens of King County food banks (including Tukwila Pantry), the Home Grocery Delivery Program reimagines the way the emergency food system works so that we can better serve all our neighbors, including low-income and households of color. The program has completed over 900,000 such deliveries, making it one of the busiest food bank delivery services in the nation.
• Our Free Summer Meals Program enabled 15,000 youth to receive free meals this summer. The Free Summer Meals program is offered at 175 sites throughout King County.
• United Way of King County’s Food Justice Collaborative is a group of organizations that serve communities experiencing disproportionate levels of poverty and food insecurity. During the recent federal government shutdown, United Way distributed $330,000 to area food banks that provide groceries and other items to residents year-round, including some members of the Food Justice Collaborative.
• United Way’s advocacy/public policy efforts have increased the eligibility for free school meals among schoolchildren statewide. In 2023, we advocated for expanding Community Eligibility Provisions, which passed via the State Legislature. This allows districts to enroll areas with 40% or greater of their students eligible for free meals in the USDA’s CEP program. Free meals are available to 100% of students in CEP areas. As a result, 92,000 additional Washington students from low-income areas receive free meals every school day.
• United Way’s Free Tax Preparation Campaign is a godsend for individuals and families who are struggling to keep food on the table, pay for rent, utilities, and other needs. This year, 18,000 of our neighbors accessed more than $17 million in tax credits and refunds by taking advantage of our Free Tax Preparation campaign.

Time and again, communities in King County have entrusted United Way to address issues such as food and financial insecurity. We show up where our neighbors say their greatest needs are.

And right now, we need your help.

During our Year-End Giving Campaign, we are looking to raise $280,000. And every dollar you give will be matched by our Board of Directors, doubling your impact for those who need it most this holiday season.

This Giving Tuesday, help us strengthen our community and ensure that everyone has enough food to eat. For more information, log onto uwkc.org/donate.