Bloglander

Thanksgiving, the official stuff-yourself-silly-with-food holiday, has passed, but we're already getting sick of those bottomless leftovers in the fridge. Black Friday 2012 — the craziest shopping day of the year — is also on the record books. And, yesterday's Cyber Monday somehow managed to pull ahead as the biggest online spending day on record. We're still sorting through our email inboxes deleting all the sale reminders...

Though it makes perfect sense to think we've passed all those dual-named days of the week for another year, a third day of the week is joining the mix: Giving Tuesday.

Instead of being all about shopping (or eating), Giving Tuesday is just what it's name implies - a day set aside to encourage people to give back to their communities. The national campaign for Giving Tuesday was launched by New York's 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation, and this is its inaugural year. Read more at the organization's website for ideas on how to implement a giving-back mentality in your home or to spread the word through social media sites. The Twitter hashtag is #GivingTuesday.

Here's how you can get involved locally.

River Park Square is hosting a kickoff event for Giving Tuesday, where you can stop by a booth in the mall atrium to find out how to give back to participating local organizations. Each nonprofit has come up with a list of specific needs that can be dropped off at the Giving Tuesday booth today until 8 pm.

Before you head downtown, read to find out what the following groups, which also accept donations at any time of the year to support their missions, are requesting in donations today:

Inland Northwest Baby - requesting diapers in size 4, 5 and 6

Teen Closet - requesting new adult-size underwear and socks for men and women

Safety Net - requesting paper towels and cleaning supplies 

LETEM Play - requesting musical instruments

Cup of Cool Water - requesting backpacks

American Childhood Cancer Organization of the Inland Northwest (ACCOIN) - requesting new kids' toys

Mission Community Outreach - requesting hygiene items

Don't fret if your favorite charitable organization isn't listed above. You can always contact them directly to find out what they're most in need of, and we're pretty sure none of the area's nonprofits would turn away your support solely based on the day of the week. Or, check out The Inlander's 2012 Give Guide, which includes a list of many of the area's nonprofit organizations that could use your support!