Giving Tuesday is here: 50 Pee Dee nonprofits to participate in event
By: Shamira McCray
FLORENCE, S.C. – It’s Giving Tuesday, and nearly 50 Pee Dee nonprofits will be represented today at the Waters Building for the Eastern Carolina Community Foundation’s Giving Tuesday Pee Dee Donation Station event.
From 3 to 7 p.m., people can drop by the Waters Building on Dargan Street in downtown Florence to donate to and learn more about local organizations, plus participate in activities.
The First Reliance Bank cash machine is expected to be one of this year’s most popular activities. The machine will feature $250 from First Reliance Bank for guests to potentially grab and donate.
“They get 10 seconds in there, and they get to grab cash,” said Denise Howard, Giving Tuesday coordinator. “Whatever cash they get, they’re not keeping it, but they get to go donate it to a nonprofit of their choice. So it’ll be small bills, a lot of fake cash, real cash.”
The represented Pee Dee nonprofits will be will be accepting cash donations. Some will also accept tangible goods, including school supplies, dog and cat food, diapers, hygiene items and nonperishable food items.
The Florence Little Theatre is one of the nonprofits that will be accepting more than cash donations.
Jessica C. Larrimore, executive director at the Florence Little Theater, said the nonprofit will also accept costumes and items for props and set decorations. Larrimore said donors can also choose to designate how they want they monetary donations to be used; either for education or general purposes.
“For us, Giving Tuesday is a way to get the community involved, to let them know what we do and that we do need their support, and to get that support from them through monetary donations or physical items they can donate,” Larrimore said.
Participating in Giving Tuesday Pee Dee is also a way for the Florence Little Theatre to raise awareness about the need for the arts, Larrimore said.
“We’re very thankful that they’re (Eastern Carolina Community Foundation) heading that up and creating that event,” Larrimore said.
Donors who visit all represented nonprofits at the Waters Building will be entered into a drawing for $150 to give to the nonprofit organization of their choice.
“The overall goal of the event is to not necessarily raise a ton of money but to create a culture of giving in the Pee Dee and just get people excited about philanthropy and encouraging our local nonprofits,” Howard said.
