Classroom Central spokesman Greg Meitus said, “Classroom Central could not fulfill its mission without the incredible support we receive from our volunteers. Last school year, nearly 2,500 volunteers donated more than 15,800 hours of their time, enabling us to distribute $5.25 million in free supplies to educators from 198 schools across six school districts.” COURTESY OF CLASSROOM CENTRAL

Tis’ the season of giving back, and today is the start of the 6th annual #GivingTuesdayCLT campaign. This campaign, presented by Wells Fargo and powered by SHARE Charlotte, encourages the Queen City community to give the gift of time, money and goods to local volunteer organizations this holiday season and beyond.

In the five years that this campaign has been running, it has inspired nearly $24 million in value for hundreds of nonprofits. As part of the kickoff for Giving Tuesday, volunteers from SHARE Charlotte will be handing out Lowe’s gift cards to be donated to the charity of your choice at the Uptown Tree Lighting at Victoria Yards today at 5:30 p.m. Additionally, the Red Cross is hosting five blood drives at YMCAs throughout the area, and Charlotte Independent Brewers Association breweries are starting a season-long campaign to donate 95 cents of every pint sold on a designated tap to the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation.

If you are looking for other ways to give back, whether it is feeding the elderly, assisting a newly immigrated individual navigate life in the U.S., making a child’s holiday wish come true or building a new home for an abandoned puppy, here are 15 organizations you can get involved with:

via Charlotte Five, read the full article and learn where to volunteer and give back here.