Giving Tuesday is far more than a day for writing checks to charities. It’s a day for each of us to change the story in our community in our own, unique way.

Giving Tuesday was launched in 2012 by dozens of participating nonprofits, including United Way. Held the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, it’s an alternative to holiday shopping days Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This year’s observance is Nov. 29.

At United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region, we want Giving Tuesday to be the spark that lights a fire of personal engagement. Each person reading this blog has a unique gift, a personal passion, a way to make a difference in our community. How will you change the story?

• Post photos of good deeds on social media. Do a good deed for someone or some organization, post a selfie on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Be sure to tag United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region and include #ChangeTheStory and #GivingTuesday. Tagging UWBCKR will help create a visual collection of local good deeds.

• Make a donation. According to Charity Navigator, about 29 percent of giving to nonprofits occurs between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. When you support United Way financially, you can trust that your gift is fueling the engine of meaningful, measurable and lasting change. UWBCKR has earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. Information on how to support United Way is available at https://www.changethestory.org/donate/.

• Volunteer for a service project. UWBCKR can help you organize a volunteer opportunity or plug in with one of our regional partners on an individual or group basis. Volunteerism is a powerful way to show your support and make a difference. Find out how at https://www.changethestory.org/what-we-do/volunteer/.

• Use social media to educate others. You can donate a tweet on Twitter or a post on Facebook with a link to United Way or your nonprofit organization of choice. Or help us spread the word about how our partnerships are impacting lives by sharing our scorecard, which is available here.

• Share a story. Send us a story of how a United Way program, partner or opportunity had an impact on you or someone you know. We build our website around stories, and we’d love to hear yours! Send your story to marketing@uwbckr.org.

Ultimately, Giving Tuesday is about giving people hope, opportunity and a future. We invite you to be part of that effort in our region.