BRUNSWICK

Today marks the sixth annual #GivingTuesday, a social media campaign that encourages people to donate to nonprofits and community programs.

The tradition follows in the footsteps of commercial holidays such as Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, which encourage consumers to shop in various outlets. #GivingTuesday instead focuses on raising money for charitable endeavors.

“Giving Tuesday is a global giving movement that has been built by individuals, families, organizations, businesses and communities in all 50 states and in countries around the world,” said Jennifer Burns Gray, director of advocacy and public relations for the Maine Association of Nonprofits, in a blog post. “Millions of people have come together to support and champion the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live.”

According to a report produced by DataKind, $180 million was raised online in the U.S. on #GivingTuesday last year.

Participating organizations in the Midcoast range from libraries to Volunteers of America Northern New England to the Maine Maritime Museum. Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, for example, announced that Riley Insurance will be matching all donations to the library up to $5,000 on #GivingTuesday.

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Not all participating nonprofits have signed up on the website, and giving is not limited to nonprofits that have declared a #GivingTuesday campaign. Although not listed online, the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust has announced a #GivingTuesday campaign to support educational programming at the Tom Settlemire Community Garden.

“This is a new initiative for the land trust this year, and we are excited to add this meaningful opportunity to support our educational programming to our regular end of year membership renewal campaign,” said BTLT Executive Director Angela Twitchell.

BTLT is hoping to raise $3,000, which will be matched by a donation from the Settlemire family.

Participating groups

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST of participating
Midcoast organizations that are listed on GivingTuesday.org:
• another jennifer, Brunswick
• Bath Area Family YMCA, Bath
• Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick
• Friends of Seguin Island Light Station, Bath
• Jill McGowan, Freeport
• Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Bath
• Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association,
Brunswick
• Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Topsham
• Maine Initiatives, Brunswick
• Maine Maritime Museum, Bath
• Maine State Music Theatre, Brunswick
• Midcoast Senior College, Brunswick
• Oasis Free Clinics, Brunswick
• Patten Free Library, Bath
• Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast
Maine, Brunswick
• Topsham Public Library, Topsham
• Volunteers of America Northern New England, Brunswick



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