Statewide Day of Giving Set for Thursday

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – If you’ve ever wanted to give back during the holiday season, but you’ve never really had the money or time to get out and help people in the community, now there’s a day set aside just for that.

The season of giving hits the web in the Peach State on Thursday for the first ever Georgia Gives Day.

“It’s a state-wide day of giving to Georgia non-profits,” says Julia Wood, with the Community Foundation of Central Georgia.

To participate, it’s easy.  Just log on to gagivesday.org, pick your favorite local non-profit, and donate.

“Whether it be a dollar or $1000 or even a larger amount, just whatever your desire is, whatever you can give at that particular time will be utilized and be beneficial to the charity of your choice,” says Lee Greenwood, president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Georgia.

The online event runs from midnight to midnight on Thursday, and to spice it up a little:

“The community foundation is awarding $2500 prizes to the non-profits in Macon and Milledgeville that receive the greatest number of donations in the 24-hour period on December 6th,” says Wood.

Like other non-profits, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Georgia is participating in a match grant.  Theirs is provided by SunTrust Bank.

“So a $10 gift would immediately mean $40 or more to us,” says Katherine Snook, director of development with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Georgia.  “So it’s a great opportunity to really leverage your gift and give a great deal more.”

Snook would love for you to donate to the kids.

“But also senior citizens, and many, many wonderful groups,” says Snook.  “Alzheimer’s, Meals on Wheels–there are a thousand different options, and they’re all great charities.”

The event runs from midnight to midnight on Thursday.

The best part about it is that your money goes straight to the charity of your choice.  There’s no middle man, and the money won’t go through any other agencies before it gets to where you want it to go.