National Day of Giving always takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. This year it is Dec. 2.

“Also called Giving Tuesday, this event was established to help the ‘giving season’ get started, reminding people that there is more to holidays than consumerism and commercialization,” according to the Days of the Year entry for the day, tinyurl.com/4feeyc7e.

“National Day of Giving was started when two organizations, the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation came together in 2012, about a month before Thanksgiving. Their intention was to set aside a day that was all about celebrating the generosity of giving,” Days of the Year reported.

“National Day of Giving is organized and celebrated each year with the simple aim of encouraging individuals, families, schools, businesses and other organizations to give to the less fortunate,” according to Days of the Year.

Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative is blessed to have a community full of concerned citizens who abundantly share their time, talents and treasures. We appreciate and thank all of you!

What can you do? Offer your time, talents and treasures.

WCHI appreciates all our volunteers. Every one of them is kind, compassionate and helps each other. Some positions have one individual working a specific job, others work as a team on a specific project, some work behind the scenes, others help with distribution day operations, and others help our guests select their pantry food during pantry hours.

We have many opportunities for you to help at our food pantry and food garden. Email volunteerme.lee@gmail.com to volunteer at our pantry, and call Gwen at 610-379-6823 for more information on the garden opportunities.

WCHI also need people with organizational skills and ideas to enhance and strengthen our mission to alleviate food insecurity in Whitehall and Coplay. These areas would be in marketing, goal building, engaging the public in fundraising events and hosting food-related educational seminars for both our guests and for the public at large.

We enjoy collaborating with our current community partners and would encourage new creative and critical thinkers to join our hardworking team. Everyone is welcome. Call Shari at 610-730-8067 to discuss further.

I want to give a heartfelt shout out and thank you to all the monetary donors and funders and all the generous groups that host food drives for WCHI. We appreciate any amount of food or money — big or small. Charitable donations from your retirement account made payable to WCHI may be tax deductible. Check with your financial adviser.

Monetary and food donations can be dropped off in the RE/MAX Unlimited foyer, 1080 Schadt Ave., Whitehall, during open hours 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

WCHI currently needs a large amount of protein items including canned tuna and canned chicken, peanut butter, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), pinto and other white beans.

Together, we all are making a difference in people’s lives. Thank you and have a great week!