Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday are the more material and consumerist sides of generosity during the holidays. Giving Tuesday on Tuesday, Dec. 3 provides an opportunity to spread that generosity altruistically, giving the gift of support to organizations that need it to help others.
GOOD Morning Wilton has compiled a list of opportunities for giving back this Giving Tuesday right here in Wilton — organizations formally participating in Giving Tuesday as well as others we’ve included on our own. Please consider helping where you can.
Supporting these organizations financially is critical, but it’s not the only way to join hundreds of millions of people who take part in this global movement. You can give time, skills, and compassion, to an organization, a community, or simply another individual. That’s especially important at a time when these organizations are facing rising costs in a tougher economy.
Giving Tuesday also serves as a reminder to check in on elderly neighbors, touch base with friends and family who are fighting or recovering from an illness, and inquire about what you can do for someone who has experienced a loss.
And remember that while the idea is to give on Tuesday, Dec. 3, it’s something everyone can do the other 364 days, too.
Riverbrook Regional YMCA/Wilton Family YMCA
*Editor’s note: In 2025, GOOD Morning Wilton will have a special partnership with the Wilton Family YMCA branch of the Riverbrook Regional YMCA to support the organization’s significant fundraising need following the damage caused by flooding earlier this year. Please consider making a donation to the YMCA’s “Restore, Rebuild and Recover” a priority this year.
This year, the Riverbrook Regional YMCA will be extending giving day to a full week in order to maximize a matching gift opportunity offered by a generous sponsor.
That means Giving Tuesday 2024 will continue until Sunday, Dec. 8.
Many people associate the Y with a swimming pool, treadmills, or even a place to enjoy a cup of coffee. But the true power of the Wilton Family Y isn’t found within four walls. YMCA officials like to say that power is in the hearts and actions of every neighbor who believes in the vision of a better “us” and a stronger community for all.
For 52 years in Wilton, the YMCA has been there unconditionally for its neighbors, staff, members and friends, offering safe spaces and access to everyone who seeks it. Donor generosity provides support for the community’s most vulnerable so that everyone has the opportunity for Healthy Living, Youth Development and Social Responsibility.
Due to the extensive flood damage to the 50-meter pool, pond, beach, paddle courts and Little League fields at the Wilton YMCA facility in August 2024, there is an immediate need to Restore, Rebuild and Recover so that the Y can continue to serve as the heart of the Wilton community.
Thanks to a generous Giving Week sponsor, the Foster Family Fund, all gifts to the Y during this period will be matched up to $50,000.
“Every single dollar donated during Giving Week goes back into our vibrant, Riverbrook Regional YMCA communities,” Riverbrook YMCA CEO Christene Freedman said. “To ensure that the Y is able to continue transforming lives and is working towards making our community a better place for all, each contribution gets us one step closer to upholding our commitment.”
Individuals, businesses, and organizations are invited to donate during Giving Week, on Giving Tuesday, or any time between now and the end of the year on the Wilton Family YMCA website.
A Better Chance of Wilton (ABC)
Since 1996, A Better Chance of Wilton has welcomed highly motivated high school students of color the opportunity to live in Wilton and obtain an exemplary education that may not be available to them in their home districts. Our ABC Scholars live in the ABC residential house in Wilton’s town center with a resident director who oversees all aspects of their lives while living here. A dedicated volunteer Board of Directors is responsible for the many aspects of the program that affirm and nurture the ABC Scholars’ potential and help to prepare them for college and their future.
A Better Chance of Wilton is fully supported by contributions from the community. This holiday season, ABC is aiming to raise $35,000 to help cover the everyday operational expenses of running the ABC house, as well as to support its Scholars’ participation in athletic and music programs, school trips, and college preparation.
Donate online or by check payable to A Better Chance of Wilton, P.O. Box 7658, Wilton, CT 06897.
Ambler Farm
Ambler Farm is a vital part of the community. Tax-deductible contributions support the Farm’s many hands-on educational programs, sustainable agriculture in the gardens, produce donations to those in need, and the restoration of the historic Raymond-Ambler Farmhouse. Public support allows Ambler Farm to provide a bucolic, open space for everyone to enjoy.
As a Wilton nonprofit, Friends of Ambler Farm connects the local community to the land, animals and each other through meaningful teaching programs, organic agriculture and engaging events. This Giving Tuesday, support will help Ambler Farm maintain the property, care for its animals and inspire local youth through hands-on programs like Apprentice and Builders. Together, this ensures that Ambler Farm continues to thrive as a cornerstone of Wilton’s heritage, fostering learning, connection and growth for all who visit. Every gift makes a difference — join in growing something special.
There are several ways to support Ambler Farm on Giving Tuesday:
- Volunteer at the Greens Sale on Saturday, Dec. 7 and Sunday, Dec. 8
- Donate a service or skill
- Make a monetary donation meaningful to you
- Give the gift of an experience, program or class (contact Ashley Kineon)
- Give the gift of membership
Donors can leave a lasting legacy by purchasing a brick and/or rocking chair. Engraved bricks will be placed in the walkway in front of the Carriage Barn. A limited number of personalized rocking chairs will be arranged throughout the Raymond-Ambler covered porch and patio areas, when complete.
Woodcock Nature Center
Woodcock Nature Center provides year-round free access to nearly four miles of groomed trails, a natural playground and outdoor aviaries. The nature center also offers free hikes and community programs to residents both on-site and across Fairfield County, which often include the use of dozens of well-loved ambassador animals. Popular after-school programs, a state-licensed summer camp and highly-anticipated annual events such as this season’s Wreath Festival bring the community together for unique hands-on outdoor learning. The nature center receives no financial support from the state or local government and relies on individual support to maintain its trails and free community programs. Tax-deductible donations can be made on the Woodcock Nature Center website.
Wilton Garden Club
The Wilton Garden Club would be most grateful for any donations for the hanging flower baskets that beautify the town and are hung from the town’s lampposts every summer. Donations can be made by sending a check payable to Wilton Garden Club, P.O. Box 121, Wilton, CT 06897. Donations can also be made online via the Wilton Garden Club’s website (click on the “Donate” button and select the “Making Wilton Beautiful” campaign. Campaign Co-Chairs Suzanne Knutson and Janet Lane said that all amounts, large or small, make a big difference in beautifying the town and will be acknowledged for tax purposes.
Wilton Youth Council
For 35 years, Wilton Youth Council has served the Wilton community, empowering Wilton youth and strengthening the community. Giving Tuesday donations helps WYC continue to support strong futures for Wilton youth through youth development programs, parent workshops and community-building initiatives. Donations go further on Giving Tuesday — Wilton Youth Council is offering a dollar-for-dollar match on the first $3,000 in donations during the day. Learn more and donate at the Wilton Youth Council website.
Wilton Go Green
Wilton Go Green works to educate, engage and encourage green living, and seeks to inspire Wilton residents to embrace a lifestyle of environmental sustainability. The organization’s initiatives encourage residents, schools and businesses to be responsible stewards of air, land, wildlife and other natural resources advancing a collective culture of conservation.
Go Green officials are excited to continue working on their mission while raising awareness on wasted food, food scrap collection, recycling right, reduce-and-reuse, energy efficiency and more in the coming year.
“We believe every individual can make a positive difference in green living and fundamentally change the health and welfare of the Town of Wilton, our residents, and the surrounding communities,” WGG President Tammy Thornton said.
Donations can be made on the Wilton Go Green website.
Circle of Care
Circle of Care provides practical, emotional and financial support to Connecticut families of children, adolescents and young adults facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis. Circle of Care believes that the path to healing extends beyond medicine, and offers services tailored to address the distinct and demanding non-medical challenges families encounter throughout their entire journey with pediatric cancer. To ensure that no family faces the financial or emotional burden of pediatric cancer alone, Circle of Care is committed to providing comprehensive, coordinated support to relieve families’ emotional strain and financial toxicity so they can focus on caring for their child and their families.
Donations can be made on the Circle of Care website.
Wilton Education Foundation
The Wilton Education Foundation (WEF), through its many fundraising programs, has contributed over $750,000 to the Wilton Public Schools over the past 13 years. Community support enables WEF to continue to give to Wilton Public School students the newest technology, innovations and beyond classroom experiences that the school budget is not currently able to provide.
WEF’s events include Reading Rocks!, Acoustic Wilton, Get Smart for Wilton 5K Race, and Middlebrook Career Awareness Day.
Past donations have helped WEF:
- build the recording studio used for MDTV
- upgrade the Learning Commons and the video studio at Cider Mill School
- build a greenhouse at Middlebrook School
- support the Science Fair at Middlebrook School
- build a recording studio at Wilton High School
- build Makerspaces for all Wilton Public Schools to support coding, robotics, STEM programs and podcasting
- enable ongoing professional development opportunities for teachers to support cutting-edge curriculum initiatives
Visit the WEF website to donate.
Wilton Kneads
Wilton Kneads is dedicated to creating opportunities for every individual with special needs to find their unique place and shine brightly in the world. The organization is empowering through baking, one treat and opportunity at a time.
Founded by two Wilton parents and their awesome kids, this non-profit business cooks up delicious baked goods and sweet treats. Still in its first year, Wilton Kneads is a growing business idea with a future goal to one day have a brick-and-mortar bakery that hires young adults and kids with disabilities.
In the words of mom founders Jen Angerame and Jennifer Ianuzzi, “There is nothing more powerful than a mother’s love for her children. And nothing will stop a mom from making sure her child has a sense of purpose, accomplishment and value. This determination led to two moms joining forces to build something for their kids, and hopefully many others, to ensure that they will always have a place to shine.”
Donate today via Venmo at @wiltonkneads or on the Wilton Kneads website.
Trout Unlimited
The Mianus Chapter of Trout Unlimited has been hard at work in town restoring the rivers, removing dams and planting native trees and shrubs. Last year, the organization restored a half-mile stretch of the Norwalk River at Seeley Rd. and removed two dams on the Comstock Brook — an important drinking water supply and home to the last native brook trout population in Wilton.
This year, Trout Unlimited is excited to continue its large-scale restoration efforts, hands-on volunteer projects, youth education programs and more. This Giving Tuesday, consider donating to the Mianus Chapter of Trout Unlimited to support its work in making a difference in the nature that surrounds Wilton.
Wilton Library
For over 128 years, Wilton Library has served as more than the cultural and intellectual heart of the community; it aims to inform, inspire, connect and enrich the lives of children and adults through exceptional services, incredible programs, innovative technology and resources that are meaningful to patrons of all ages.
Every gift made has an immediate impact on the library and the community. The dollars raised on Giving Tuesday go directly to help fund collection materials and programs such as author talks, concerts, children’s and teen programs, and more.
Wilton Library is not a municipal library. It must raise approximately 25% of its budget each year as part of its public-private partnership with the Town of Wilton and relies on donations from individuals, corporations and foundations to provide a variety and richness of programs, materials and innovative technology for patrons of all ages. Wilton Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and gifts are 100% tax deductible.
This year, the library’s goal is to raise $35,000 in donations from the community. The library’s Board of Trustees has pledged a dollar-for-dollar matching gift challenge of up to $16,300 to double a donation.
To give to Wilton Library, visit the library’s Giving Tuesday webpage or website.
Trackside Teen Center
For the past 20 years, Trackside Teen Center has provided a safe and supportive space where teens can grow, build their identity, and develop self-confidence. The organization’s motto — For Teens, By Teens — reflects the heart of its mission, with teens taking the lead in running the kitchen and cafe, creating afterschool clubs and contributing to the Board of Directors. Teen voices are central to Trackside’s success, making it a unique and special place for the youth of Wilton’s community.
Resident support allows Trackside to keep its program costs affordable, offer many free- to low-cost community events, extend financial aid as needed, continue to maintain and improve its facility, say, ‘yes’ to as many teen projects and ideas as possible and dream up new, enriching offerings for Wilton and its teens.
To donate, visit Trackside’s website.
Wilton High School Theater Arts Association
The Wilton High School Theater Arts Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that volunteers time and raises money to supplement the Wilton Public Schools‘ budget for the Wilton High School Theater program.
Wilton High School has had an amazing tradition of theater arts opportunities for talented WHS students and is well known for the professional level of its theatrical productions. Family and friends are treated to Broadway-quality productions that are authentically costumed and staged. The WHS TAA also helps build and grow the wider theater community in Wilton.
Last year, the WHS TAA raised $40,000 for the theater program, which in turn makes it possible for the program to produce high-caliber shows such as this year’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. With the school budget being tight, the WHS TAA relies on donations and public support of events in order to meet its goal to fully fund these performances.
Donate to the Theater Arts Association online.
Wilton Rocks for Food
Wilton Rocks for Food is the brainchild of Wilton resident Andy Schlesinger. For nine years, the annual concert brought together a few dozen Wilton musicians to perform more than four hours of live music to sold-out crowds, not just for a rockin’ good night but also for a good cause — raising over $950,000 since its founding to be split evenly between the Connecticut Foodshare and the Wilton Food Pantry.
An email from Schlesinger this year emphasized that while the show may be on hiatus in 2024, the need to help people is not. “The impact of food inflation for those in lower economic groups has been devastating and demand at food banks is setting records. So while there isn’t a fundraising ‘event’, Wilton Rocks for Food is still fundraising,” he wrote.
This year, in addition to Connecticut Foodshare and Wilton Food Pantry, Wilton Rocks supported Open Doors, Person to Person, Pacific House, Al’s Angels, Filling in the Blanks, Food Rescue U.S. and Circle of Care. Wilton Rocks for Food has zero overhead costs.
To donate, visit the Wilton Rocks for Food website or send checks to Wilton Rocks for Food, 70 Kensett Dr., Wilton CT 06897.
SMS Foundation
The Smith-Magenis Research Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, was founded in June 2010 by two women, one of whom is Wilton mom Jennifer Iannuzzi, whose daughter Sydney was diagnosed with the rare Smith-Magenis Syndrome shortly after she was born.
Donating to the SMSRF helps financially support three current research projects and spread awareness of SMS. Because of the foundation’s tremendous growth over the last decade, more researchers are now interested in studying SMS and are turning to the foundation for funding. Support will help SMSRF fund new projects aimed at finding treatments to improve the lives of people living with SMS.
Stay at Home in Wilton
Stay at Home in Wilton offers supportive services and resources along with social and educational programs that unite its members as a community and enhance their efforts to remain independent, active and connected. The organization’s goal is to help its members remain in their homes and support a vibrant senior community in Wilton.
The group’s modest membership fees fall far short of the funds needed to sustain the organization. Stay at Home in Wilton does not receive funding from any national, state or local governments. It relies solely on donors’ generous support.
To make a donation visit the Stay at Home in Wilton online.
Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps
The Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps has provided emergency medical services and transport to the hospital for the Wilton community since 1976. The organization is an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization, not a department within the Town of Wilton.
WVAC is staffed by certified emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and emergency medical responders (EMRs) who volunteer their time to serve the community.
In 2023, there were a record 1,713 calls for emergency service, a small increase over the prior year but a 16% increase over 2022. In 2024, WVAC is trending well over 1,800 calls, representing a 22.8% increase for the last three years. Calls to area nursing homes and additional medical facilities in town are the main factors for the increase. With new multifamily housing on the horizon, that number will likely continue to grow.
WVAC’s major source of operating funds is from billing Medicare and private insurance companies for its services, along with generous donations from Wilton residents. While billing revenue has increased with the higher call volume, collections are not guaranteed, and not all calls result in billing. In addition, operating costs across the board have increased significantly, mainly labor, medical supplies, and other equipment.
WVAC relies on the charitable support of the Wilton community, individuals, foundations and businesses to carry out its mission. Every donation WVAC receives helps it to continue to provide the highest level of pre-hospital emergency care. Contributions are used to purchase and maintain WVAC’s state-of-the-art medical equipment, medical supplies, communications equipment, uniforms, the purchase and upkeep of its ambulances and training for over 60 members. In addition, WVAC provides scholarship assistance to its graduating high school seniors and college volunteers pursuing their studies in the field of medicine.
Donations by credit card can be made online via Venmo or Paypal. Donations by check payable to Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps can be sent to 234 Danbury Rd., Wilton, CT 06897.
Wilton Land Trust
The Wilton Land Trust is a community-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that safeguards Wilton’s unique natural, scenic, and historical landscapes through conservation and stewardship. The Land Trust’s efforts to preserve open space, protect biodiversity and restore wildlife habitats depend solely on the support of its members.
Closely tied to the Wilton community, the Land Trust is not a municipal government body or commission. One hundred percent of the operational funding comes from members. Every contribution supports Wilton’s open spaces and goes toward Land Trust programs, operations, and conservation efforts.
Living in Wilton means the almost certainty of driving past an open meadow, living near a preserved forest, fishing in a protected stream, or hiking on a conserved trail. Wilton’s land trust is all about those spaces.
Support the organization via the Wilton Land Trust website.
SPED*NET
SPED*NET (Special Education Network of Wilton) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping parents of children with special needs become their children’s best advocates throughout the special services process and the transition to college, employment or other post-secondary pursuits. It serves parents of children who have been diagnosed with a disability and receive services through an IEP (under IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) or a Section 504 Plan (under the Rehabilitation Act), who are newly diagnosed, or who are struggling and have yet to be diagnosed.
Donate via the SPED*NET website.
Wilton Social Services
Wilton is a community where the need may not be as apparent on the surface, yet it’s ever-present, year after year. The Wilton Food Pantry regularly serves over 350 eligible Wilton residents who struggle to afford food and groceries. The Wilton Community Assistance Fund supplements emergency financial assistance to Wilton residents. In addition, there are several dozen children on this year’s Holiday Giving Program list.
Wilton residents that would like to donate can do so with a gift card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express) or a supermarket gift card.
Checks are also gladly accepted and can be designated for general use or for specific discretionary accounts. Checks should be made out to the Wilton Community Assistance Fund and donors can either write in the memo line or on the envelope Food Pantry, Holiday Gift Program, or Fuel Assistance Program.
Gift cards and checks may be placed in the secure lockbox located outside the door on the lower-level side of the Comstock Community Center building (180 School Rd.) or sent to the Social Services office directly. For more information contact the department at 203.834.6238.
Wilton Historical Society
With a commitment to making Wilton’s past relevant to the community and to visitors, the Wilton Historical Society, founded in 1938, offers a broad variety of insightful exhibits, programs and special events presented with historical accuracy and depth. It offers:
- A museum where history comes alive through 12 period rooms
- Special collections, including toys, tools and trains, which are of interest to a broad audience
- Renowned, nationally recognized annual events such as the Great Trains Holiday Show
- A variety of programs for children, adults, and families that skillfully blend education and entertainment
- Curriculum-appropriate historical education for Wilton’s students
- Preservation of 17 historical buildings which are typical of a New England rural community
A donation to the Wilton Historical Society will help keep the doors open for exciting programs, historic preservation, intriguing exhibits, and educational opportunities.
Donate to the Wilton Historical Society online.
Cannon Grange
Cannon Grange No. 152 has been a part of Wilton since 1899 and has its roots in the rural and agricultural history of Wilton. Cannon Grange continues to be a community-based organization that seeks to provide community service, fellowship, and family activities for its members.
Aside from certain schools and churches in Wilton, Cannon Grange is Wilton’s oldest organization still in existence, and continues to meet in the historic Grange Hall located at 25 Cannon Rd., diagonally across from the Cannondale Railroad Station. One of the main objectives and financial obligations of Cannon Grange is upkeep of this historic building in the heart of Cannondale Village.
A major source of pride for Cannon Grange is the annual Agricultural Fair which is held in the Grange Hall and on the grounds surrounding the historic building. The Fair heartily recalls Wilton’s rural past and presents to the community an authentic Agricultural Fair for children and families to enjoy.
Donate via the Cannon Grange website.
Wilton Playshop
Since 1937, the mission of the Wilton Playshop has been to further the performing arts by providing quality live theatre to the greater Wilton area, and by doing so, provide an educational and growing experience for all involved. The Playshop is a volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with a governing Board of Directors. There are generally three major productions presented each year.
Charitable contributions are crucial to the Wilton Playshop’s mission of producing world-class theater while serving the greater Wilton area with an educational and growing experience for all involved.
Thirty percent of the Playshop’s annual operating budget comes from donor contributions. These gifts make it possible for the Playshop to provide audiences with the definitive theatre experience and give its artists the resources they need to create the best possible work with the highest standards of excellence.
The Playshop’s goal for the 2024-25 season is to raise enough money to update the Playshop’s lighting and install air conditioning in order to bring back the organization’s summer youth program..
Donations can be made online or mailed to The Wilton Playshop, P.O. Box 363,
Wilton, CT 06897.
Community Nursery School of Wilton
The Community Nursery School of Wilton, in little red schoolhouse in the middle of Wilton Center, has been providing families with an exceptional preschool experience since 1938. Founded by a group of parents, CNSW has strived to provide a welcoming atmosphere rooted in a play-based philosophy. At CNSW, educators believe that play is integral to a child’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive development and that children learn best in the context of a community in which they feel safe and valued, and where each student’s individual needs are met. It provides a small school environment with a personalized touch that helps to make that first school experience for parent and child special. The CNSW mission is to prepare each child to lead a resourceful, resilient and responsible life within a supportive community of teachers.
There is an Amazon Wish List that CNSW teachers have put together. In addition, CNSW also accepts monetary donations to put towards an enrichment fund and scholarship program, which has been an important part of the fabric of the school for more than 50 years. CNSW is committed to providing a full scholarship each year to a deserving Wilton family, focusing on local, community workers and single parent households. Scholarship recipients are always need-based. Monetary donations can be made via check to Community Nursery School of Wilton, Inc., at 9 Hubbard Rd., Wilton, CT 06897.
Wilton High School Music Boosters
The Wilton High School Music Boosters supports the outstanding music program at Wilton High School and its very talented students and directors in the band, orchestra and choirs. One hundred percent of all donations support the music program.
Over the last few years, WHS Music Boosters has provided funding for the purchase of:
- Wegner sheet music storage system
- sound system for Spring Pops Concert
- new drums for Marching Band
- transportation for the choirs to and from Carnegie Hall
- new PA system for the marching band
- visiting artists and ensembles
- purchase of $2,300 in Wish Tree items including strings, reeds… and a new piccolo!
- financial aid to reduce the cost of the adjudication trip for students
The boosters also offer a number of scholarship awards to graduating seniors.
Contributions (in any amount) are fully tax deductible and can be made online.