By Julie Siegler, FUSION Executive Board Vice Chair

Created in 2012 as the simple idea of designating a day early in the holiday gifting season to encourage people to do good, Giving Tuesday is now a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate and celebrate generosity.

Local nonprofit FUSION is calling on you to join the cause and give back to your community in the coming weeks leading up to Giving Tuesday on November 30.

Founded in 1993, FUSION has a mission to provide housing and support services to families with children experiencing homelessness in our community so they will have a safe, secure environment as they work toward self-sufficiency.

As a true partner in the community, FUSION has created three easy ways you can participate in Giving Tuesday:

• Donate funds. Giving Tuesday donations will immediately be applied to the FUSION Finally Home Fund to help families with move-in expenses when they transition from the FUSION program to their permanent home. Go to fusionfederalway.org and designate your donation at How to Give.
• Become a Volunteer. FUSION has ongoing volunteer needs for folks wishing to become more involved in hands-on giving projects for families in need. Along with positions at FUSION Décor Boutique and opportunities to work with the children at their emergency shelter, FUSION has several “Day of Service” homes ready to be converted for new families to take residence before the cold winter sets in. If you have a group looking for ways to give back to the community, FUSION welcomes you to spend a day or two with them. Email volunteers@fusionfederalway.org
• Participate in the FUSION “Books For Kids” Drive. With a belief that children require a safe and stable home to thrive, the backbone of FUSION’s work is to support the needs of youngsters in their family shelter and transitional housing homes. To put books into these young hands, FUSION is creating a lending library where the children have access to books that will nurture a life-long love of reading. To contribute please select new, or gently-used books for infants up through teen years, and drop them off at the FUSION Décor Boutique, 1108 S. 322nd Place in Federal Way.