Today is Giving Tuesday, a special day set aside for charitable donations after the spending sprees of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.

Here, the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan leads the charge in collecting donations to 62 participating Northeast Michigan charities.

Last year, more than $365,000 was raised by the foundation in the 24-hour window of Giving Tuesday, according to a recent story on The News’ Lifestyles page. That money went to local charities who help with everything from afterschool programs for kids to clothing and food for needy families and more.

This community is nothing if not generous, and we expect to see similar totals from today’s Giving Tuesday, despite the financial pressures of inflation.

Donors can visit cfnem.org on Giving Tuesday and make donations to local nonprofits.

We encourage every reader who’s able to log on and make a donation this Giving Tuesday to make a real difference in the lives of your friends and neighbors.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)