Show Black love by donating to these charities on Giving Tuesday

The holiday season is more than the festive glitz and glamour, the twinkling lights or countless hours spent shopping for gifts.

The spirit of the holidays truly revolves around gratitude and paying it forward for others.

A child stands under a Christmas tree, excited to open presents. But the holiday season is more than the festive glitz and glamour. (Courtesy of Thought Catalog on Unsplash)

Though capitalism can take center stage when it comes to celebrating — we can partially thank that Mariah Carey and Sephora ad for plunging us back into the madness — the holiday season isn’t always magical for everyone.

So, after spending time with loved ones for Thanksgiving and instead of getting lost in the chaos that is Black Friday, consider donating your time or resources to people in need on Giving Tuesday.

Here’s a list of communities you can support this holiday season:

Food insecurity

The holidays can already be tough, especially if food access is scarce.

Antioch Urban Industries, the Atlanta Community Food Bank and The Gathering Spot membership club are helping relieve food insecurity. Antioch and the Atlanta Community Food Bank accept monetary donations, food items and volunteers to package orders.

According to a representative with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, an estimated 7,500 volunteers will be needed during the 2025 holiday season. Specifically, after-school snack items and baking goods are requested donations.

According to a representative with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, an estimated 7,500 volunteers will be needed during the 2025 holiday season. (Courtesy of Atlanta Community Food Bank)

The Gathering Spot is extending its Side-By-Side program that started during Thanksgiving, but will continue throughout December. Each dish is a buy-one, get-one deal. So, if you buy a side item, that same side dish will be donated to a family in need.

Antioch Urban Industries

456 Northside Drive NW, Atlanta. 404-524-9775, antiochurban.org.

Atlanta Community Food Bank

3400 N. Desert Drive, East Point. 404-892-3333, acfb.org.

The Gathering Spot

384 Northyards Blvd. NW, Atlanta. 404-948-2459, thegatheringspot.club.

Education

Forever invested in literacy, the C.T. Vivian Foundation will collect donations to uplift its mentorship programs, boost reading and increase book access.

The organization, which is based on preserving Black literature and history, extends the legacy of civil rights leader C.T. Vivian who believed there was power in knowledge.

C.T. Vivian Foundation

504 Fair St. SW, Atlanta. 770-719-4797, ctvivianfoundation.org.

U.S. Rep. John Lewis (from left), D-Ga., U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Ala., the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. C.T. Vivian hold hands as they lead hundreds of marchers across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Sunday, March 6, 2004, in Selma, Ala. (Dave Martin/AP 2004)

Health care

Health care can always be a concern, particularly for underserved communities. Whether it’s physical or mental care, be sure to remember to keep them in mind during the holiday season.

Georgia Center for Child Advocacy serves the needs of sexually and physically abused children through therapy, providing training for courtroom professionals and resources for case workers to help prevent childhood trauma.

AID Atlanta services people afflicted by HIV/AIDS around metro Atlanta. The organization provides prevention plans, medical care and long-term wellness support.

Georgia Center for Child Advocacy

(Fulton location) 680 Murphy Ave. SW, Suite 5091, Atlanta. 678-904-2880.; (DeKalb location) 1950 W. Exchange Place, Tucker. 770-492-5484, 678-904-2884. georgiacenterforchildadvocacy.org.

AID Atlanta

1438 W. Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta. 404-870-7728, aidatlanta.org.

Housing instability

Atlanta Mission and Gateway Center are known throughout Atlanta for helping the homeless community. Both organizations provide temporary shelter for people in need and resources to help them move into more permanent housing.

Atlanta Mission is a religion-affiliated nonprofit that believes in spreading the teachings of Jesus through its community work. Food, toiletries, medicine and coats are acceptable, along with monetary donations.

The Gateway Center in Atlanta provides temporary shelter for people in need and resources to help them move into more permanent housing. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2024)

According to the Gateway’s website, the center focuses on the underlying issues and root causes that can lead to homelessness — like addiction, mental and physical disabilities, unemployment and unaffordable housing. Food and monetary donations are requested.

Atlanta Mission

2353 Bolton Road NW, Atlanta. 404-588-4000, atlantamission.org.

Gateway Center

275 Pryor St. SW, Atlanta. 404-215-6600, gatewayctr.org.

Job skills training

Hosea Helps provides services for homelessness prevention. Part of that assistance includes classes for people looking to acquire work-related skills.

“We get them employment-ready, which is different for everybody,” said president Elisabeth Omilami.

Elisabeth and Afemo Omilami, CEO and COO of nonprofit Hosea Helps, speak to volunteers about The Great Turkey Drop Off on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. Each year, the nonprofit collects donations for the Thanksgiving food drive. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

The organization provides free Wi-Fi for those who might need to fine-tune their resumes or submit job applications. Case managers will devise individual and family budget plans and career resource officers will help job seekers look for work through staffing agencies.

Monetary donations will help sustain the services provided.

Hosea Helps

2545 Forrest Hills Drive SW, Atlanta. 404-755-3353, 4hosea.org.

Toys

Everyone doesn’t believe in Santa Claus, but every kid needs toys to boost creativity and identity.

Toys for Tots makes sure kids have toys during the holiday season, and the Empty Stocking Fund partners with organizations to ensure children do not go without. Both nonprofits need volunteers and financial donations.

Atlanta Toys for Tots, the largest in the nation, collects new, unwrapped toys to distribute.

“Every dollar donated goes directly toward the program, whether to purchase toys or cover essential program needs,” according to a Toys for Tots representative.

Atlanta Toys for Tots, the largest in the nation, collects new, unwrapped toys to distribute. (Courtesy of Toys for Tots)

The Empty Stocking Fund also prefers unwrapped toys so parents can wrap and gift them; However, the organization prefers monetary donations so toys can be bought in bulk. Sponsoring a child costs $35, and $105 will cover a family.

“We purchase with vendors we’ve been working with at liquidated rates,” said executive director Greg Hill. “We can serve more kids with those dollars.”

Atlanta Toys for Tots