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MonJul 15

National Give Something Away Day – July 15, 2024

Imagine a day when you could clean house and get rid of clutter, show someone that you care, gift small things to strangers, and generally making the world a better place. Yes, this day does, in fact, exist and on July 15 we celebrate National Give Something Away Day!

When is National Give Something Away Day 2024?

National Give Something Away Day is celebrated on July 15.

History of National Give Something Away Day

It’s better to give than to receive, and this is the aim behind National Give Something Away Day. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” doesn’t literally mean junk or trash, but items that can serve someone else better. The day encourages people to give freely to others without expecting anything in return. This is also a good way to declutter and pass on things that no longer fit us or are useful to us.

Most of us undoubtedly have way more items than we need. National Give Something Away Day was established on July 15, 2015, by Linda Eaton Hall-Fulcher, a self-proclaimed giver. On the day’s Facebook page, Linda advocates giving back to the world. According to her, this day is for everyone who cares. It advocates for giving to friends, family, and the less fortunate; for mindful consumerism; and for being more aware of our carbon footprint.

Giving is the simplest act to exist that can brighten up another’s day, and at times really bring about a positive change. Whether it is something small like giving a compliment, giving your friend a jacket of yours that she really likes, or donating clothes to the less fortunate, these little things can have a big impact.

Even though giving is a selfless act, the reward goes both ways. We benefit from feeling good about giving and making someone’s day, and at the same time, we also let go of items that we no longer need and are just lying around. We also learn to be grateful for all our blessings and it makes us feel like responsible people who are improving the community.

National Give Something Away Day timeline

1964
The Giving Tree

American children’s picture book “The Giving Tree” is published.

2015
Do Good Recklessly

Linda Eaton Hall-Fulcher creates National Give Something Away Day to encourage generosity.

2016
Americans Have Big Hearts

In the United States, giving is on the rise.

2017
Numbers Show

The total charitable giving amounts to $410.02 billion.

National Give Something Away Day By The Numbers

300,000 – the number of items in the average American home.
1 out of 10 – Americans rent offsite storage.
25% – the percentage of people with two-car garages who don’t have room to park cars inside them.
32% – the percentage of people with two-car garages who only have room for one vehicle.
7.3 square feet – the self-storage space available for every man, woman, and child in America.
238 – the number of toys an average 10 year old owns
12 – the number of toys an average 10 year old plays with.
30 – the number of outfits the average American woman owns.
$1,700 – the amount of money an average American family spends on clothes annually.
65 pounds – the weight of the clothing the average American throws away in a year.
$1.2 trillion – the amount of money spent by Americans annually on nonessential goods.

National Give Something Away Day FAQs

Is today National Give Something Away Day?

National Give Something Away Day is on July 15 every year. 

What national day is it July 15?

Some national holidays celebrated on July 15 are National Give Something Away Day, National Pet Fire Safety Day, National Gummi Worm Day, and National Clean Beauty Day

How to celebrate National Give Something Away Day?

On National Give Something Away Day, give whatever is in your means to make someone’s day better. From giving flowers to a friend to donating books to a children’s home, the gift of giving keeps on giving today. 

National Give Something Away Day Activities

  1. Buy a meal or drink to give to someone

    Pay for the person behind you in line at the coffee shop. Buy a to-go meal and hand it to the homeless person outside. Pack a small purse or backpack that you don't want anymore — with things like socks, snacks, and toothbrushes and gift it to a homeless person. Compassion is a virtue that needs nurturing.

  2. Donate clothing to a thrift store

    Check all the closets in your house... are there things there that you haven't worn in years? Giving your useful clothing away gives someone with less means the opportunity to look sharp, maybe even at their job interview.

  3. Give flowers away

    Flowers are a simple way to brighten someones day — with color, smell, and a breath of greenery to bring nature to their desk or table. Give flowers to your co-workers, your housemate, or your significant other.

5 Benefits You Didn’t Know About Giving

  1. Just thinking about giving feels good

    The results of a study showed that simply thinking about giving boosts the same parts of the brain as exercise and eating — an MRI also showed that donating activates the part of the brain that gives a sense of euphoria.

  2. Givers are happier than non-givers

    In a study conducted by the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey, a group of 30,000 American households was polled and showed that givers were happier than non-givers.

  3. Watching someone give is good for health

    A study in 1988 discovered that students who watched a movie about the life and work of Mother Teresa experienced a boosted immune system in the months that followed.

  4. Giving strengthens relationships

    Whenever you give something to somebody, a social bond is created with them, which they are not likely to forget soon.

  5. Giving is contagious

    A 2010 study found that when a participant gave money away, the recipients of that money were also likely to give themselves.

Why We Love National Give Something Away Day

  1. Giving things away brightens someone else's day

    What better way to make your day count, than by making someone else happy? When you make other people happy, you get a sense of peace and happiness that only things like philanthropy can achieve.

  2. Giving things away gives a sense of lightness

    When you get rid of things, your life becomes infinitely more simple and free. The feeling one gets from removing items that you might not have needed or were not using, gives you a sense of freedom.

  3. Giving Decreases Stress

    Less clutter = less stress. The less stuff you have, the less things you have to worry about and the better you will feel. And we all know that how bad stress can be for you and the health benefits of decreasing stress.

National Give Something Away Day dates

YearDateDay
2024July 15Monday
2025July 15Tuesday
2026July 15Wednesday
2027July 15Thursday
2028July 15Saturday

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