On November 4th, hundreds of Baltimoreans gathered to plan acts of kindness that they will perform on November 29th, #GivingTuesday. Giving Tuesday marks the end of our year-long Conversation Thread journey where more than 1200 people have come together to build new connections, understand one another more deeply and ultimately turn words of hope and promise into positive actions throughout Baltimore.
This journey was inspired by our Thread students who recognized the importance of getting to know their neighbors – not the ones they see every day, but rather people who don’t live near them, look like them, or have the same daily experiences as them.
#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Last December, we began asking people to #RethinkGiving and perform an action that would nurture a current relationship or spark a new one. The outpouring of actions across Baltimore, the country, and world led to over 1,000 actions (posted here)! Individuals reached out to estranged family members, while others helped neighbors with household projects or offered a kind gesture to a stranger.
This year, we have 52 groups that are planning to organize a wide range of powerful Giving Tuesday actions for November 29th. This unprecedented event is a testament to our community’s deep love for the city of Baltimore and one another. We are inspired by the actions to which each group has committed and are excited to see them come to life. We hope you will be inspired and join in on the action. Here are some examples below:
Maybe you’ve seen a small box in your neighbor’s yard that looks something like a little birdhouse . Well it’s designed to hold free books! One of our groups has committed to stocking a Little Library in Baltimore on #GivingTuesday. These libraries exist across the country. Share a book and start a conversation with your neighbors!
To find a little library near you, search here: https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/.
Write Love Notes to Baltimore using chalk on our city sidewalks. Send messages of love & hope and spread the word using #ConversationThread and #lovenotestoBaltimore.
To find more information visit Love Notes to Baltimore’s Facebook page.
Every action counts – big or small. Make blessings bags with food, warm clothing or personal care products to give to those in need.
There are many ways you can devote time to give back to your community. We encourage everyone to join the movement and commit to at least one act of kindness. Share your action with us by sharing pictures on social media with #ConversationThread, tagging us on Facebook @Thread or email us your pictures at engagement@thread.org.
