So there was Thanksgiving, then Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and now tomorrow Cyber Monday. But did you know that the next day is Giving Tuesday?

Giving Tuesday is a national movement to return the spirit of generosity to this season of overdone materialism. In the words of Anne Frank: “No one has ever become poor by giving.”

My husband and I sit down at this time of year and decide what organizations we will support with our contributions for the coming year. I would like to share three of them with you that, not so surprisingly, relate to themes from my Goddesses books.

In the first book in the series, One Mountain Away, successful entrepreneur Charlotte Hale learns that life is only complete when she reaches out to others.

The goddesses she inspires do exactly that in the second novel, Somewhere Between Luck and Trust when they help Cristy Haviland who must face the reality that illiteracy is a major obstacle in turning her life around. I support Proliteracy as a volunteer  at the Sarasota Literacy Council  because I believe everyone should be able to read for their own joy as well as  their survival and development.

In the third novel, No River Too Wide, which came out last July, Janine Stoddard has the courage to leave her abusive husband and seek a better life.  The Tahirih Justice Center is another organization I support because it strives to protect women and girls who are fleeing personal and political violence in their native countries. Tahirih is wonderfully successful, too, protecting so many whose options are few.

The Color of Light is the fourth book in the Goddesses series, due out next August and deals among other things with the problems of a homeless family. I have long supported Habitat For Humanity and their compassionate work to build homes for hard-working families around the world. What better way to help the homeless than to help them build and move into a forever home?

My husband and I contribute to other groups as well, but we feel each of these groups give help and hope to a world that needs both.

Whatever groups you support with your generosity, may you also find that you are richer and never poorer by giving.

Happy Giving Tuesday!