Tuesday is World Giving Day, or maybe better known locally as Giving Tuesday.

There is no limit to the choices you have to give and to give locally. Pick something from your own personal interests — whether that be something specific to help children, to help animals, to help students or to help your local municipality.

You may choose to give directly, or you may choose to support one of the well-established local organizations such as Rotary or Lions Club.

Some of the organizations even have a matching gift option available to make your gift that much more significant.

Butler County residents are as generous as you will find anywhere.

It is so nice that we have an opportunity to throw our change in the red kettle for the Salvation Army, or to give to one of the Arts Council entities who are striving to add new, richer culture to the community. Saxonburg and Cranberry are always hosting activities that benefit their local nonprofits.

We also are blessed with organizations such as The Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center and The Jean B. Purvis Community Health Clinic, which deal with bigger issues in the community and help keep us healthier and safer.

With all these other options, we shouldn’t lose sight of two of our bigger concerns in the Butler Hospital Foundation or the Butler County Community College Education Foundation.

Having mentioned all those other possibilities first, let’s end with two ideas for helping that do more to warm the hearts of givers than most do: The Kids' Weekend Backpack Program to feed kids and the community meal programs hosted by various churches are wonderful giving opportunities. These opportunities are not red or blue. They cross all denominational and color barriers and feed those who need it most.

Giving Tuesday is an excellent followup to the Thanksgiving holiday, as there is no better way to give thanks than to help others.

— RV