NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity is one of the many local nonprofits that will participate in GivingTuesday, a global day of generosity and philanthropy, on Tuesday, Dec. 1.
GivingTuesday was launched in 2012 as a simple idea: to create a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past nine years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate and celebrate generosity.
GivingTuesday is also a chance for local nonprofits to reach out and galvanize their supporters.
New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, for instance, has participated in GivingTuesday since 2012. This year it takes on a special meaning since NOAHH is not hosting volunteers on construction sites, as per COVID guidelines.
“The timing of GivingTuesday in 2020 is a much bigger factor than usual because of the myriad impacts of COVID on low income working families,” said Marguerite Oestreicher, executive director of New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. “Habitat home buyers have deferred mortgages while tenants have struggled to make rent. If that wasn’t enough, over 80 local Habitat homebuyers need help dealing with Zeta repairs.”
New Orleans Habitat for Humanity has continued to fulfill its mission of providing affordable home ownership opportunities throughout the pandemic. The organization enacted a mortgage deferral program in the spring for current homebuyers and, shortly after, resumed building new homes for first-time homebuyers.
Oestreicher explained that a donation in the amount of $25 to NOAHH on GivingTuesday will provide the purchase and installation of a new bathroom faucet in a Habitat home; a gift of $100 will pay for a window. Anyone wishing to donate to NOAHH on Giving Tuesday can do so at www.donatenola.org, texting HABITAT to 91999 or calling NOAHH at (504) 861-2077.
