By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Giving to area non-profits is encouraged year round. But there's something about making it a community event. That's what Golden Belt Community Foundation does each year with Giving Tuesday, which falls on Dec. 3 this year. But Mackenzie Mitchell, development and communications coordinator at GBCF, says the giving season is already underway for the 11th Giving Tuesday.
"There are four ways people can give from now until prior to Dec. 3," she said. "They can give on our website, which is goldenbeltcf.org, and click donate. They can bring it into our office at any point during work hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or they can mail it to our office. On Dec. 3, and Dec. 3 only with all the other options, we are still doing the bank box dropoffs. In each county, there is a list of banks where people can drop off their donations if they don't want to mail it or drive it in."
Typically, more than 100 non-profits in Barton, Pawnee, Rush, and Stafford counties are eligible for monetary gifts. GBCF has the opportunity to earn up to $70,000 in matching funds thanks to the Patterson Family Foundation.
"The organizations that have endowments, it benefits them in a big way because they get matching dollars," Mitchell said. "The more dollars they raise, the more matching dollars they get."
Donations can be made in person at GBCF, 1307 Williams Street in Great Bend. To learn more about this year’s Giving Tuesday, please visit the foundation website at www.goldenbeltcf.org and the Facebook page in the coming weeks. For additional questions please contact Mackenzie Mitchell, development and communications coordinator, at (620) 792-3000 or [email protected].