By Future Brown
Herald Democrat

North Texas Giving Day is back for 2026 with local nonprofits sharing their needs for the annual season of giving.

While the title can lead individuals to think this is a one day event, North Texas Giving Day began on Aug. 27 and will continue through Sept. 17.

There are more than 3,500 nonprofits that call North Texas home.

“Now in its 18th year, NorthTexasGivingDay.org continues to expand as a one-stop shop for supporting our local community every day of the year through cause campaigns, matching fundraisers, corporate and group giving events, and nonprofit-led fundraising efforts,” the North Texas Giving Day website says.

Since the creation of the giving event, the program has raised more than $700 million for nonprofits.

“Every participating nonprofit is IRS-recognized, in good standing with state and local requirements, and committed to serving our community,” the North Texas Giving Day website says. “When you give through NorthTexasGivingDay.org, your dollars are put to work right here in North Texas, helping fund programs and services that impact lives in our community.”

Locally, United Way of Grayson County works with about 20 local nonprofits as partners helping them to achieve their goals.

“The demands on our social services and nonprofits are only increasing with increased economic pressures on families,” United Way of Grayson County Executive Director Katie Eubank said in 2025. “Also, the political climate is affecting federal and state funding for some of these organizations. We have got organizations that are doing more than ever with the same or less money. We are seeing that across the board and certainly here in Grayson County.”

Through the North Texas Giving Day website, people can learn about local organizations who have highlighted their programs with pictures and videos.

“It is a great opportunity to look for volunteer opportunities, if you have time to give,” Eubank said. “The most valuable thing that anyone has to give is their time.”

United Way’s goal is $5,000, and as of Tuesday, the organization was just at 3% of its goal.

“Our fight is a universal one,” the United Way of Grayson County website says. “We are fighting for people to get better jobs and achieve financial stability, students to graduate high school ready for college and careers, and individuals to lead healthier lives.

“Now more than ever, communities need help, they need hope. United Way surrounds a community’s most critical problems-and we fight.”

The United Way’s job is to help local organizations meet their needs through support and more.

“The most critical thing we do is invest the donations we receive into our nonprofit community,” she said. “That is what we are known for historically. That is where our large impact is felt. Somewhere in the ballpark of one in four Grayson County residents receives a service through one of our partner agencies. Helping to invest in those programs is a critical path for our community. That is our top priority, great need, high impact.”

A list of organizations United Way works with include:

Barnabas Food Pantry,

Boys and Girls Club of Sherman,

Boys and Girls Club of Denison,

CASA of Grayson County,

Child and Family Guidance Center of Texoma,

Denison Helping Hands,

Family Promise of Grayson County,

Feed My Sheep,

Four Rivers,

Grayson County Chidlren’s Advocacy Center,

Grand Central Station,

Habitat of Humanity of Grayson County,

Home Hospice of Grayson, Cooke and Fannin Counties,

House of Eli,

MasterKey Ministries,

Meals on Wheels of Texoma,

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul,

TAPS,

Texoma Community Center,

Texoma Family Shelter,

and The Rehabilitation Center.

“Education is a cornerstone for success in school, work, and life,” the United Way website says. “It is one of the primary keys to breaking the generational cycle of poverty. High school graduates have higher earning potential, contribute more to their local economies, are more engaged in their communities, and are more likely to raise kids outside the limitations of poverty.”

Some programs unique to United Way of Grayson County include Tiny Toes, a program for family support, the diaper bank and the organization also works with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

“Dolly Parton has been doing it for more than 30 years,” Eubank said. “We are just at about two years and over 30,000 books mailed to Grayson County children. We have just over 1,700 children enrolled right now. We would love to enroll more children. It is just a matter of finances at this point. These are age-appropriate books being mailed to any child enrolled. It is great, great program. Early literacy can change a child’s trajectory and help them become school ready.”

For just $31 a year, individuals can help provide a book each month to a local child under the age of five years.

“A really interesting article, I recently read said that for every $1 we invest in childhood programs, saves our society $7 in the future just through their involvement in the juvenile justice system, social service needs and more,” Eubank said. “Almost all of our programs are targeted towards early childhood, birth to five years, because we believe that if we pour into our children today, we are helping them in the future.”

North Texas Giving Day platform is open through Sept. 17, and 100 percent of the donations are given to the nonprofits.

To donate to any of the local nonprofits, visit their pages at https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/.