Community Missions reveals third annual #GivingTuesday plans

Submitted

Tue, Nov 17th 2015 06:50 pm

As the holidays quickly approach, Community Missions is gearing up for its third annual #GivingTuesday event - and it's inviting the Niagara community to catch the giving spirit.

Occurring this year on Dec. 1, #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events "Black Friday," Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. The event inspires people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they support, and help create a better world.

"#GivingTuesday has become a wonderful event that we look forward to each year," said Christian Hoffman, communications and development manager at Community Missions. "We are excited to give everyone a fun new way to participate this year, by partnering with several local restaurants that will be donating proceeds to Community Missions."

On Dec. 1, these restaurants will give back a portion of their sales to Community Missions:

•Rainforest Cafe, 300 Third Street, Niagara Falls, (716-278-2626) will donate 10 percent of the day's sales.

•TGIFriday's, 300 Third Street, Niagara Falls, (716-282-2580) will donate 10 percent of the day's sales.

•Denny's, 443 Main St., Niagara Falls, (716-284-8801) will donate 10 percent of the day's sales.

•24 Below Art Gallery & Cafe, 435 Third Street, Niagara Falls, (716-304-1990) will donate 25 percent of sales for special breakfast service between 7 and 10 a.m.

•LongHorn Steakhouse, 1861 Military Road, Niagara Falls, (716-297-0347) will donate 10 percent of sales when guests mention #GivingTuesday.

•Panera Bread, 1508 Military Road, Niagara Falls, (716-297-3567) will donate 10 percent of sales between 4 and 8 p.m. with a flier found at www.communitymissions.org/givingtuesday.

Further, Community Missions will once again give community members opportunities to volunteer and/or donate to its cause. The largest such project will take place in its food pantry, where volunteers will remove everything from two rooms, remove the existing flooring, paint the rooms, install new flooring and reassemble the room in one week's time. Other volunteers will be working to spread Christmas cheer around the mission, decorating and wrapping presents, while others will serve lunch in the community kitchen.

In all, more than 120 volunteers are expected to participate in #GivingTuesday activities at Community Missions. Those include individuals from the Isaiah 61 Project and Leadership Niagara's high school program, LYNC (Leadership for the Youth of Niagara Communities.)

Those interested in donating as a part of #GivingTuesday at Community Missions can do so in a number of ways. Donations, including clothing, household items, nonperishable foods and financial, can be dropped off at Community Missions, 1570 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls, or online at www.CommunityMissions.org/donation.

About Community Missions

Community Missions has provided the Niagara community with a wide range of vital services since 1925. In 2014, CMI provided more than 76,900 meals and 10,000 nights of care within its crisis services programs. Additional agency programs serve adults and youth with psychiatric disabilities, parolees, at-risk youth and other underserved populations in both residential and recovery-oriented settings. For more information, visit www.CommunityMissions.org.

About #GivingTuesday

#GivingTuesday is a movement to celebrate and provide incentives to give. The 2015 iteration will be held Dec. 1. This effort harnesses the collective power of a unique blend of partners - nonprofits, businesses and corporations, as well as families and individuals - to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.

#GivingTuesday inspires people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they celebrate, and help create a better world. #GivingTuesday harnesses the power of social media to create a global moment dedicated to giving around the world.

To learn more about #GivingTuesday participants and activities or to join the celebration of giving, visit: