Two New Ways to Celebrate after Thanksgiving

Get your family involved in Giving Tuesday and Small Business Saturday

While some families plan their after Thanksgiving holiday shopping around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there are two new dates that get our attention this year: Small Business Saturday on November 24th, and Giving Tuesday on November 27th. We think these are terrific ways to give back to our local communities along with supporting those who need our help this season.

Small Business Saturday was started by American Express in 2010 to drive shoppers to local merchants across the U.S. Last year, over one hundred million people participated in the program to rally behind the small businesses in their communities. American Express is offering a $25 statement credit for card members who make qualifying purchases after registering on their site.

As a small business ourselves, Oaklee’s Family Guide is always looking for ways to bring visibility to local business owners. It’s great to have one day, November 24th, to bring attention to small businesses but we encourage you to get to know your local business owners, and support them with your purchasing power all year round. Find more ideas on supporting small business owners on the Small Business Saturday Facebook page.

Giving Tuesday is new this year, and most appropriate as many of our friends, family and colleagues on the East Coast are still trying to recover from the devastation of Super storm Sandy. Some large brands, like Discover and JC Penney are teaming with non-profit groups like United Way and the American Red Cross to increase the impact of your donations.

There’s even a company that offers a way to for you to donate food kits for families impacted by the storm. World Vision offers a gift catalog and will be donating purchases made during the week of Giving Tuesday to East Coast families in need. It’s a great way to teach our children the true meaning of the holiday season.

For more great ideas on how to get your family involved, see the Giving Tuesday Big Ideas for Families page.

Let us know how your family supports small businesses and gives to those in need on the Oaklee’s Family Guide Facebook page.