Giving Tuesday puts a pause on consumerism

After the flurry of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, the United Way is asking shoppers to put a pause on spending money for one day and think about donating it instead.

• Giving Tuesday is the antidote to the shopping frenzy of the holidays

"Giving Tuesday is a reminder of how we can support our neighbours, co-workers, friends and people we don't even know," said Connie Walker, CEO of United Way Winnipeg.

Giving Tuesday is a global movement to encourage giving back in the lead-up to the holidays. In Canada, the hashtag #givingtuesdayCA and a websiteare being usedto facilitate and encourage donations and volunteerism.

"You may not see the rewards right away, but these are rewards that you can't see," said Leah McGuiness, who started volunteering in the Transcona area at a breakfast program last year. "They are gifts that money can't buy."

Once McGuiness began to feel some of the rewards of giving back, it changed her life completely, she said.

Volunteering helped her to overcome depression and integrate back into society, saidMcGuiness.

"It's been humongous.It's like being in a river drowning and somebody hands you a rope and saves you. It's really one of the best, best things I've ever been through," she said.

Walker hopes Winnipeggers think about giving back today, and she said the United Way could use support as the end of the year approaches.

"This is just a reminder to people to consider giving to United Way. It makes a difference in so many people's lives."