November 30, 2021 – Organizations from around the community met Tuesday afternoon in the First United Methodist Church for Decatur’s Giving Tuesday Campaign. This program returned from a brief hiatus that lasted just one year.
The organizations and charities present included the following:
Salvation Army
Decatur Arts Council
Boys and Girls’ Club
Girl Scouts of Central Illinois
Scouts of America
Beautify Decatur Coalition
Catholic Charities
Paw Print Ministries
Webster Cantrell Youth Advocacy
Habitat for Humanity
God’s Shelter of Love
Good Samaritan Inn
New Life Pregnancy Center
Macon Resources Inc
Special Olympics Illinois
Northeast Community Fund
Shemilah’s Outreach Center
New Hope Animal Outreach
Macon County Honor Guard
Old King’s Orchard
Relay for Life
The Child’s First Center
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Project Read Plus
Big Brothers Big Sisters
American Red Cross
Growing Strong Sexual Assault Center
Central Illinois Christians in Mission (CICIM)
Jennifer Horton-Motter, founder of the Decatur Illinois Giving Tuesday Campaign, said, “We invite the community in and ask them to lend their time, lend their voice, and lend their dollars. This is a coalition of local non-profits who provide services and education to the Decatur area.”
With the program starting in 2015, many organizations have already benefitted from the annual event.
Tommy Black, Junior Vice Commander at Macon County Honor Guard, stated, “Every time we do a funeral for a veteran, we do not expect to get paid. So any place that they offer us donations, we go and explain what, why, and how we do what we do. It is true that every little bit helps.”
Abigail Holt, Legal Medical Advocate Supervisor for the Growing Strong Sexual Assault Center, expressed, “We are trying to raise awareness here and let people know that we are here for them. Our services are free because we feel that those going through those things shouldn’t need to worry about finances. Decatur’s Giving Tuesday has helped the community through helping us.”
“The number of people that come through and are so willing to give to the organizations that help take care of those community members in need, it’s really great to see. Even to see the little kids that come through with what they have saved up and just spread their wealth with all of us is amazing,” said Matt Kaufman, Senior District Executive for Scouts of America in the greater St. Louis area.
Giving Tuesday differs from Black Friday and any other shopping holiday in that the people who receive the money are not selling anything. However, that does not take away from the success that the Decatur area has seen.
Horton Motter said, “I have found that this community is very generous. Although we could not have this event in 2020, our community members have donated over $105,000 just on Giving Tuesday.”
The idea of Giving Tuesday originated in 2012 at the 92nd Street Y and its Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact in New York City. The movement has inspired people worldwide to celebrate generosity.
