November is here, and with that comes a season of thankfulness and giving.

Freeborn County and the surrounding area have many worthwhile causes to support, and what better time to support those efforts than when your donation could earn your cause extra money?

Scheduled giving begins today for Minnesota’s giving holiday known as Give to the Max Day, which takes place Nov. 15.

The first-ever Give to the Max Day began in 2009 as a means to ignite generosity and grow giving through an online giving platform on GiveMN.org. The first year, Minnesotans donated more than $14 million in 24 hours to nonprofits and schools throughout the state, according to the organization. Adding up all the donations through the first nine years, donors had given nearly $150 million to more than 10,000 nonprofits and schools.

Check out GiveMN.org and search for some of the local organizations that you might be familiar with. There’s everything from the Education Foundation of Albert Lea, the downtown holiday lights campaign, the Albert Lea Art Center, the Albert Lea Family Y, St. Theodore Catholic Church, the Freeborn County Historical Museum, Youth for Christ and the United Way of Freeborn County, among many others.

Searching for “Albert Lea” or “Freeborn County” in the search bar at the top of the home page will bring up a list of all the organizations and causes locally.

If you want to donate before Nov. 15 because you have a busy schedule or are afraid you will forget to do so, donors can give in the next two weeks, and your organization can still be eligible for monetary prizes given out that day.

Help boost up our local nonprofits.