Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that encourages people to help transform their communities by doing good, helping others or donating to an organization that they like. Giving Tuesday is held annually the Tuesday after Thanksgiving — this year, December 1 .
I am a seasoned mission trip girl. I have been on many over the years and have given of my time and finances to help people in foreign countries both medically and physically by assisting in building walls for homes or laying floors in small communities in Honduras where eight people share one small room. Another favorite trip involved going across the US border into Juarez, Mexico where 50 people with neurological problems needed orthotic intervention to help keep their hands better positioned. They waited patiently for two days for my attention with thankfulness in their hearts. All of these trips have been a challenge; they have often put me out of my comfort zone but also given me a beautiful sense of “helping transform” as I worked alongside the people of the community. In Haiti, folks waited in the hospital hallways on stretchers while the orthopedists from Atlanta reviewed their injuries in hopes they would be the one to get a much-needed surgery and therapy. A smile, a nod, a handshake or hug was enough for me to feel as though I had helped in a way that was needed by providing skills that I have
This year is different. The opportunities to do these types of trips have been reduced. COVID-19 has taken its toll on us all and reduced the opportunities to “give back." The opportunities 
are still around but may look different. Consider giving to a local food bank for our neighbors who are hungry, make a meal for a neighbor or friend who is ill and don’t forget to consider giving monetarily to an organization that you love.
Giving to ASHT is also a great way to help. Our organization has gone through different times this year with the inability to provide in-person education to our members. Our staff and volunteers have worked endlessly to create different ways to provide educational content. Our 2020 Virtual Conference has provided much needed education and CEUs for the many, many therapists who love hands and the upper extremity, and the content is wonderful! Hurray to our annual meeting conference team for providing such a great learning opportunity.
ASHT is a 501(c)(30 nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the field of hand and upper extremity therapy by promoting education, advocacy, research and clinical standards. All your donations are tax-deductible and your contributions are recognized on the ASHT website and in the ASHT Times member magaze. You can decide where you want your gift to go.
Education: A gift will support the growth of ASHT’s evidence-informed programming and learning opportunities to help meet the demands of clinical practice (Annual Meeting Sessions Fund.)
Advocacy: Your gift supports ASHT’s efforts to educate our nation’s legislators on the issues impacting the provision of hand therapy services (Vision Fund)
Research: Your gift advances the field of hand and upper extremity therapy (Vision Fund)
Service: Your gift supports the training of the next generation of hand therapy professionals. (Awards and Scholarship Fund)
Let us join the global event and give a donation to ASHT! Donate some of your time or help someone out on Giving Tuesday. A challenge to all of us: Let’s make Giving Tuesday a weekly event and help out someone who needs assistance. Working together will make us stronger and hopefully 2021 will bring us a year full of promise and good things.