After a weekend of selfish consumerism thanks to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the U.S. takes a moment to give back with the annual tradition of Giving Tuesday. Now in its seventh year, the day is meant to kick off the charitable season and remind us of the importance of giving back. While there are a ton of charities out there, I decided this year to look into some of the ones that tie in with the spooky lifestyles we live and share the ones that you may want to give back to if you are thinking of donating.Don’t Be A MonsterOne of my favorite recent charities, Don’t Be A Monster, offers unique and entertaining anti-bullying assemblies for students in 4th-10th grade. Established in 2013, Don’t Be A Monster is working to empower our youth to be leaders in diversity and inclusiveness and to build caring communities that stand up for their friends and peers if they’re being bullied. The program has been featured in 847 different schools and has reached over 390,000 students. In a world where bullying and cyberbullying is a growing concern, this is a great organization to give back to. If you’re interested in donating or want to learn more, visit dontbeamonster.orgSpirit Halloween’s Spirit of ChildrenWhile we most often think of Spirit Halloween around Halloween, the company is helping support children’s hospitals across the US and Canada year round with their Spirit of Children program. Started in 2006, Spirit of Children aims to make hospitals less scary for kids and their families with 100% of donations made going to fun and funding for over 140 local children’s hospitals. Since 2007, the effort has collected over $45 million in cash and merchandise to support local hospitals. Funding to hospitals provides salaries for Child Life Specialists and Fellows, a full-time Child Life presence in Emergency Department, creation of dedicated playrooms, teen lounges and family space, and the ability for our hospitals to purchase educational equipment, computers, iPads and distraction toys for use during procedures as well as toys created specifically for physical and developmental limitations. Donations can be made through the Spirit website for as little as $1 and as much as $100.Scares That CareWith the tagline, “Scaring away childhood disease and illness!” Scares That Care started in 2007 by Joe Ripple, a retired Baltimore County, Maryland, Police Detective as a tribute to the daughter of a fellow officer who succumbed to a terminal illness. After a number of successful campaigns Scares That Care became a formalized 501(c)(3) in 2011 and is focused on fighting “the real monsters” of childhood illness, burns and breast cancer by helping families that are experiencing these extraordinary hardships cope with the financial burden by raising and providing $10,000 per sponsored family. To learn more about the organization, the 2019 recipients, or to donate visit scaresthatcare.org.‘Ween DreamFinally, a more Halloween specific charity to consider is ‘Ween Dream, a nonprofit that gives free Halloween costumes to children in need across America. Started in 2012, ‘Ween Dream collects donated costumes (both new and gently used) and provides them to children in poverty, suffering from serious medical issues, special needs, and children who have experienced traumatic events. In 2017 ‘Ween Dream provided costumes to over 2,200 children in 30 states and is supported both through costume donations as well as financial donations, which can be made on their How to Help page.
