These Pennsylvania nonprofits are worthy of your Giving Tuesday contributions

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is a time to give back to local nonprofits that help your community. Here are a few for you to consider donating to.

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving, known as Giving Tuesday, has become a well-known, global effort to raise awareness and donations for nonprofits during the holiday season since it began formally in 2012. This year, Giving Tuesday falls on Nov. 28.  

Pennsylvanians are no stranger to charitable giving. The commonwealth is ranked 7th in the nation for most charitable states, according to a report from the personal finance website WalletHub.

With so many worthwhile charities in the commonwealth, it can be difficult deciding where and what to donate. WalletHub has created a Charity Calculator to help you determine the best strategy for your situation by analyzing whether it is more advantageous to donate time or money based on your income.

To help you decide the “where” of the giving equation, we’re highlighting charities in different areas of the state representing a variety of causes. While there are many worthwhile organizations that could use help this holiday season, these are just some examples to get you in the giving mood.

Animal shelters

The Animal Resource Center (ARC) of Bloomsburg is a no-kill, non-profit animal shelter with a mission to provide temporary shelter for homeless, abused, and neglected dogs and cats; educate the public on their care and welfare; and act as advocates for animal rights. You can support the animals at ARC by purchasing any one of the items on the center’s Amazon wish list.

Animal Friends in Pittsburgh is a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals in crisis. In addition to providing animal therapy and pet friends to veterans, the organization also offers an affordable spay/neutering program and vaccines. Help this worthy organization out by purchasing an item on their Amazon wish list.

Pennsylvanians with disabilities

The Harmony Theater in Blue Bell provides performing arts activities and opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities so that they may have an avenue for self expression, social interaction, and community engagement. To provide support to the theater, click here.

Aaron’s Acres in Lancaster provides individuals with disabilities ages 5 to 21 with year-round therapeutically based age-appropriate recreational programs directed by specially trained and certified staff in a supportive environment that enhances socialization and communication skills. Emotional, educational, and recreational support is offered for the entire family. To support this organization, click here.

Food banks

Helping Harvest collects, purchases, stores, and distributes more than nine million pounds of food annually to the more than 350 programs which feed the hungry in Berks and Schuylkill counties. The organization depends on monetary and food donations in order to feed more than 110,000 people every year. To help out, you can donate either money or food to Helping Harvest.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania in Erie is the largest nonprofit food distribution organization in the northwestern part of the state and the only food bank in the region. Second Harvest distributes millions of pounds of grocery products each year to hundreds of nonprofit member agencies that directly serve people facing hard times in 11 counties, including Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Venango, and Warren counties. To donate to this worthy organization this Giving Tuesday, click here.

Homelessness and housing

Safe Harbor of Chester County provides shelter, food, counseling, and recovery opportunities in a structured environment to single men and women experiencing homelessness. Safe Harbor’s goals go beyond just feeding those experiencing homelessness and providing shelter. By donating to this organization, you help provide safe housing, nourishing food, and encouragement to individuals without homes.

Sparrow Place in New Freedom provides safe housing and resources for survivors of human trafficking. Through a monthly survivor sponsorship, your donation will help to provide safety and security, medical and dental care, addiction recovery, trauma and art therapy, and legal fees for survivors of human trafficking.

Veteran organizations

Warrior Strong in Scranton helps veterans, their family members, and first responders find community and camaraderie through health and wellness so they can overcome the sense of detachment, disconnection, and isolation they often experience in civilian life. This Giving Tuesday, the organization has set a $25,000 fundraising goal to provide free wellness programs to veterans in 2024. To help them reach their goal, donate here.

Operation Troop Appreciation in West Mifflin provides support to active duty troops and veterans through two programs: the Active Duty “Wish-list” program works with military units to provide “wish list” items specifically requested by troops in active duty; and the “Welcome Home” program works in coordination with the VA and other veteran support organization to provide support for veterans in need by helping to defray the costs associated with housing. To donate to this organization, click here.