The season of charitable giving unofficially kicks off today, Dec. 3, with #GivingTuesday. Now in its eighth year, the global day of giving encourages people to share time, offer a gift or make a donation to help their local communities. Last year, Giving Tuesday activities were held in nearly 100 different countries worldwide. In the United States alone, it’s estimated that donations totaled nearly $400 million. This year, the University of Denver has several student support funds where your contribution will have a direct impact on students and their DU experience. DU Food Pantry The food pantry was created to help combat food insecurity at the University of Denver. Operated through the Center for Sustainability, the pantry distributed 5,867 pounds of food last year. There were nearly 500 individual visits to the DU Food Pantry, and nearly half of the users were graduate students. Donations made to this cause will help stock the shelves with nutritious options for students, faculty and staff who are in need. Health and Counseling Center The University of Denver’s Health and Counseling Center is every student’s home for health and well-being during their time at DU. The center is committed to care of body and mind to help students succeed in college and life. Some students face financial barriers when it comes to pursuing the health and counseling they need while in college. Giving to this cause will support the Health and Counseling Center’s Access Fund, which addresses the financial gap that some students face when seeking help. Student Emergency Fund The Student Emergency Fund provides financial support to DU students who face emergency situations. These circumstances can include anything from textbook needs to unplanned travel expenses. The fund is designed to make sure that money is the least of a student’s concerns in the event of an unforeseen emergency. Giving to this cause will help support students so that their focus will always be on their academic succ