Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Tuesday after Thanksgiving has become known as Giving Tuesday, a day for folks to put aside buying gifts and focus on donating to worthy causes.
"Giving Tuesday is an a wonderful opportunity for individuals in the community to support local organizations like the Salvation Army," said Major Annette Lock with the Salvation Army of Buffalo.
The Salvation Army is out every day throughout this season, raising money to be able to provide for the vital services and programs the organization operates.
"Making sure that our shelter stays open, that our food pantry is available, that our employment services and many other vital programs remain operational," Lock said with WBEN.
She says bell ringers are out throughout the community to accept donations.
You can also mail to the Salvation Army at 960 Main Street Buffalo, New York, 140 202 or by going online. Her goal is to raise $362,000 by Christmas.
Steve Tybor says Eight Days of Hope takes action on a moment's notice when there's a natural disaster. That usually means there isn't time to raise funds when the time comes.
"I know, with Hurricane Milton and Helene, we took about $90,000 of food to Florida and North Carolina to start feeding people. So Giving Tuesday gives people an opportunity to come alongside nonprofits like eight days of hope and saying, 'You know what, we believe in what you do,'" said Tybor in an interview with WBEN.
Tybor says he doesn't set a goal amount.
"We really look for donors. I tell people all the time, if you can donate $10 a month, $25 a month, $50 a month, those, to me, are as important as the ones that that can give something significantly more," Tybor said.
That's because Tybor just want to share with people around the country what his group does.
"We're looking to add donors who want to come alongside either responding to natural disasters or building safe places for women and children rescued from trafficking, or what we do here in Buffalo every year, in July," he said.
Funds with Eight Days of Hope typically go toward deploying 8-to-10 times a year across the country to help out after disasters.
"This year, which is our 19th year of our existence, we responded 23 times, three times more than ever before," Tybor added.
You can make donations to PO Box 3208, Tupelo, Mississippi, 38803, or drop off a donation at 852 Kensington Avenue in Buffalo.