On Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, shoppers scooped up items for themselves or those on their holiday gift lists.

But local nonprofit organizations hope consumers had a few bucks left over to donate to their important missions on Giving Tuesday.

Initiated in 2012 in New York City, World Giving Day — now commonly known as Giving Tuesday — hopes to encourage everyone to focus more on charity during the holidays.

Several local nonprofits participated in Giving Tuesday with the hope of garnering vital dollars for their purposes.

Butler YMCA had a lobby rally set up in the Butler Y, where members, nonmembers, volunteers and employees enjoyed snacks and music Tuesday while donating to the Y.

Christina Dreher, director of development for the Y, said all donations Tuesday up to a total of $10,000 were matched through a posthumous gift from the estate of John L. “Jack” Pakiela, an active member of the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township.

“He was a guy we all know,” Dreher said. “He was blue-collar and a veteran, and he saved every penny he had and was able to give back to the community.”

In Cranberry, the Schneider YMCA offered Taco Tuesday in collaboration with Moe’s Southwest Grille, in which the purchase of a $40 taco family dinner saw $10 go to the Y.

Last year, the Butler County Family YMCA exceeded its goal of $10,000 on Giving Tuesday, and hoped to do the same this year.

“We have connections to everyone in the community, and I think they remember us on Giving Tuesday because of those connections,” Dreher said.

At Butler Little Theatre, the board of directors continues to work to make up for the funding gap experienced during the coronavirus pandemic.

Sue Collar, board chairwoman, hoped donations on Giving Tuesday would help close that gap.

“We lost money due to not being able to perform our shows, so we are trying to cover our expenses,” Collar said.

She said the theater had enough in its coffers to cover utilities and other expenses during the pandemic, but the group’s checking account was drained.

“So many people know about Giving Tuesday now because it has become so well-known, so we are hoping that friends and family of our supporters and members will contribute some if they are able,” Collar said.

Donations to Butler Little Theatre, which has entertained county residents since 1941, continue to be accepted at bltgroup.org or by sending a check in any amount to 1 Howard St., Butler, PA 16001.

The theater staff is excited to restart the Children’s Workshop program in 2023, in which youths in grades three through nine can take classes at the theater.

The young people then put on a production when classes end, showing off the acting, technological, voice projection, poise and confidence skills they learned.

Youths who are interested in the Children’s Workshop can visit bltgroup.org or call 724-287-6781 and leave a message, Collar said.

The Butler County Humane Society also has $10,000 in matching funds to bump up the amount donated by pet-loving residents throughout the county.

Alicia Terek, director of development at the Humane Society, said the same anonymous donor has provided the matching funds on Giving Tuesday for the past three years.

Last year, the society earned about $20,000 from donors, which amounted to $30,000 with the matching funds.

“Our community seems to be very supportive,” Terek said. “Any time we are in need, they are very committed to helping us out.”

Giving Tuesday is one of the society’s largest fundraisers, with the money going toward pet food, staff salaries, emergency veterinarian visits, spaying and neutering animals, and more.

Camp Lutherlyn in Connoquenessing Township aimed to earn at least $6,000 in donations on Giving Tuesday to fund its youth “camperships” for the 2023 summer camp program.

“We’ve done Giving Tuesday for about seven years, but for 30 years we have always promised we would never turn a child away from one of our summer programs, and that’s what today supports,” said Andrea Dunmyre, director of development at Lutherlyn.

Last year, the cost for a young person to attend a one-week camp at Lutherlyn was $500, Dunmyre said.

Lutherlyn provides hundreds of free “camperships” to youths every year, she said.

The weeklong camps teach all who attend to be good citizens and community members, whether in their cabins at the camp, home or school.

“It’s a Christ-centered program, so when the kids come here, we really accept them as they are,” Dunmyre said. “We make an intentional Christian environment.”

She said donations will be gratefully accepted at lutherlyn.com/tuesday for several days, and anytime at lutherlyn.com under the “support” tab.

“No matter when the gift is made, it will certainly help our campers,” Dunmyre said.