Americans have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals (Black Friday & Cyber Monday). There is also Giving Tuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back.

On Tuesday, Nov. 29, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give their time, talent, or treasure to support a cause they care about.

A group of 43 local nonprofits from the Boothbay region are collaborating to let the world know that they live, work, play, and pray in one of the most caring places on Earth. With fewer than 10,000 year-round residents, the Boothbay region is home to all of these nonprofit organizations that serve their peninsula and beyond. In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, the effort was dubbed Boothbay Treasures, to express both how the community treasures the work these local nonprofits do and how the nonprofits treasure their local supporters.

At this year’s Fall Foliage Festival (Oct. 8 and 9), Boothbay Treasures is going to kick off the "Giving Season" by reminding guests that the season of giving is also a great time to give back. The 1847 Boothbay Town Hall will be filled with information tables about area non-profits and the work they do. Some of the featured organizations will also be running fundraisers and sales of handmade items at their tables.

According to Valerie Young of Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and the coordinator of Boothbay Treasures, “Fall Foliage Festival is the perfect place to kick off the season of giving. It’s a great venue to gather together to celebrate the end of summer and reach out to community members and our fall visitors.”

Participating Boothbay Treasures nonprofits include: Boothbay Sea & Science Center, Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Boothbay Railway Village, Boothbay Region Historical Society, Boothbay Region Health & Wellness Foundation, Boothbay Region Community Resources Council, and Kwiltz for Kids.