In 2012, the 92nd Street Y in New York City began the Giving Tuesday program. After the crazy spending of Black Friday, Shop Local Saturday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday was created as a day to give back.

Since then the concept has taken off, with regional efforts all over the country and a 270 percent increase in donations to nonprofits on that Tuesday, according to the local chairman of Boothbay Treasures, Valerie Young.

Boothbay Treasures was created this year to bring together incorporated nonprofits from the peninsula (Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay, Edgecomb and Southport) in a joint effort to promote the work they do and encourage giving on this year's Giving Tuesday, which is Dec. 2.

The group has been focused on raising local awareness of all the nonprofits in the region. They have planned a community dinner at Boothbay Region High School, and have more projects in the works. The group has been having monthly meetings since March, and their efforts have caught national attention.

“The 92nd Street Y was excited to talk to us about our work, and mentioned our group in a national press release,” Young said.

Part of the release reads “With under 10,000 year-round residents, the Boothbay region is home to over 50 nonprofit organizations that serve their peninsula and beyond. The effort has been dubbed Boothbay Treasures, to express both how the community treasures the work they do and how the nonprofits treasure their supporters.” The full press release can be seen on the Giving Tuesday website (www.givingtuesday.org).

Boothbay Treasures is encouraging different forms of giving as well, not just monetary.

“We know not everyone can afford to give to all these worthy causes, but people can help without giving money,” Young said. “They can support the groups, maybe volunteer their time, share the information about the nonprofits with others. Share a status off Boothbay Treasures Facebook page.”

Currently 26 local nonprofits are involved with Boothbay Treasures. They include Bead for Life, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, Boothbay Railway Village, Boothbay Region Ambulance Service, Boothbay Region Community Resource Council, Boothbay Region District Nursing Association, Boothbay Region Garden Club, Boothbay Region Health & Wellness Foundation, Boothbay Region Historical Society, Boothbay Region Land Trust, Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund, Boothbay Region YMCA, Boothbay Sea and Science Center, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Friends of the Library, Hope Haitian Ministries, Inn at Cuckolds Lighthouse, Institute for Family-Owned Business, Lincoln Arts Festival, Lincoln County Healthcare, Lincoln County Triad, Maine State Aquarium, Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, and Southport Memorial Library Aides.

“It's not just a great cause, it's been a lot of fun too,” Young said. “You get to know people and the work they do and connect with people around the region.”

The group has a microsite (www.boothbayregister.com/affiliate/x/42834) set up where you can find out more information about the group. To join or ask questions, email Young at vyoung@bigelow.org.