WARREN — Area organizations providing assistance to those in need say Giving Tuesday and the entire holiday season will have an impact on the amount of help they are able to give well into the new year.

Jim McIntyre, regional communication director of the American Red Cross of Northern Ohio, expressed confidence that Giving Tuesday will provide extra funds to the Red Cross because the Coca-Cola Co. has promised to match all donations up to $250,000 nationally.

“Giving Tuesday started in 2012 to encourage people to make donations to nonprofit organizations,” McIntyre said. “It has expanded in the number of donations received since that time.”

The need for additional volunteer assistance and financial contributions always is significant, but especially during this time of year, he noted.

The Red Cross provides assistance to families whose homes are damaged by fire.

Through October in the Akron-Mahoning Valley district, Red Cross provided assistance at 200 house fires. This includes help to victims of 44 fires in Mahoning County and 33 houses burned in Trumbull County.

“We provide food, clothing, shelter and other needs of people who have had to leave their homes because of fire,” McIntyre said. “People leave their homes with nothing.”

SALVATION ARMY

Capt. Chris Williams of the Salvation Army of Warren could not quantify the amount his organization may have received Tuesday, but states any additional money that comes in will be helpful.

“The money you give sometimes will help a neighbor,” Williams said.

During the holiday season that spans Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve, the Salvation Army has set a goal to collect $110,000, primarily through its Red Kettle campaign.

The kettles went out Nov. 12 and will remain at various area locations through Dec. 24.

“The need in the community has increased,” Williams said. “We are expected to provide help to about 650 families and give toys to about 1,700 children.”

Williams said people can provide direct donations to the Salvation Army of Warren. Those with time can help at the kettles.

RESCUE MISSIONS

Giving Tuesday last year provided a big fundraising boom for the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley during which the organization raised about $14,000 to purchase metal lockers for the rooms at its new facility at 1300 Martin Luther King Drive on the North Side of Youngstown.

“We don’t expect to raise that amount of money this year,” Lynn Wyant, chief development officer of the Rescue Mission, said. “We had a specific goal to accomplish last year. The money this year will go to our general fund. It will be used to feed people and for general operations.”

Giving Tuesday — an international day of giving — has given people a mindset to give through the holidays, Wyant said.

“Any amount we receive is important in providing for people who come to us for assistance,” she said. “We can provide a meal with $2.47.”

The Youngstown mission has the capacity of providing 186 beds per night for people needing help. It provides shelter for individuals, women, men, children and families.

“We served more than 60,000 meals last year,” Wyant said. “Giving Tuesday provides us a nice bump every year.”

Dominic Mararri, director of public relations for the Warren Family Mission, described Giving Tuesday as one of the times of the year that people and organizations make it a priority to give.

“After Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, people are mindful of giving to others,” Mararri said.

Gifts provided during the fourth quarter of the year are important for organizations such as Warren Family Mission because it is when numbers of donations and requests for help increase.

“We definitely notice an uptick of giving during this time of year,” he said. “Groups and organizations plan specific events as part of team-building exercises.”

Organizations to help

Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley

1300 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Youngstown, OH 44510

330-744-5486

rescuemissionmv.org

Warren Family Mission

155 Tod Ave NW, Warren, OH 44485

330-394-5437

warrenfamilymission.org

The Salvation Army Warren Corp Community Center

270 Franklin St SE, Warren, OH 44483

330-392-1573

American Red Cross

3530 Belmont Ave #7, Youngstown,

330-392-2551