RALEIGH, N.C. — Giving Tuesday is a day dedicated to supporting nonprofits. According to the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits, there are more than 40,000 charitable organizations across the state. However, since the pandemic, many nonprofits have seen revenue losses and have staff vacancies.

What You Need To Know

Giving Tuesday is a day dedicated to supporting nonprofits

There are more than 40,000 charitable organizations across North Carolina

Since the pandemic, many nonprofits have seen revenue losses and have staff vacancies

Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue is asking for donations of the following: money, time and United Sky Miles

Like many nonprofits, Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue is 100% volunteer-based so donations of any kind, such as money, time and even United Airlines Sky Miles are extremely valuable for the organization to continue the work it does.

I think I've I think I've done a good job at ‘going to the dogs’ in retirement,” Julie Rigby, a volunteer with Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue, said.“I've volunteered with the rescue for about 12 years, but I do more now than I'm retired. One of the things that I said when I retired is I was, ‘going to the dogs,’ and I think I've I think I've done a good job at ‘going to the dogs’ in retirement,” Julie Rigby, a volunteer with Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue, said.

When you see a pack of golden retrievers out for a walk, it’s hard not to smile. It’s even more heartwarming to know they’re all rescues that are here thanks to the hard work and dedication of volunteers with the Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue.

“We've been around for 25 years, and we rescue golden retrievers and golden mixes, mostly in the eastern part of North Carolina and the Triangle,” Rigby said.

Rigby started volunteering with the organization after losing her own golden retriever to cancer.

“I started fostering. And I think fostering is a fantastic way to help dogs. But also it sort of healed my broken heart,” Rigby said.

Most recently, Rigby has helped coordinate rescue efforts internationally in places where adoption is not popular.

“Derin was actually found in a village in Turkey outside of Istanbul, and some children started feeding her and then their parents contacted the rescue. She came to the U.S. just about 10 days ago so she is one of our newest Turkey dogs, fresh off the airplane,” Rigby said. “We have a Miles on a Mission campaign with United Airlines and that can help rescue dogs like Derin from Turkey.”

It costs well over $200,000 a year for them to rescue, rehab and adopt these dogs.

Rigby says rescues all over the state have a great need because of the number of animals they’ve received as people return to work.

“During the pandemic, it seemed like people needed dogs right to work from home with them. Now, after the pandemic rescues and shelters are full again. So the tide has turned. We needed these dogs during the pandemic, but now so many of them need people to help them find their forever home,” Rigby said.

Rigby hopes the community can see the work they’re doing and support them in whatever way possible on Giving Tuesday and beyond.

“It's one person deciding to help one dog, and that's how all rescue works. It's just over and over and over. So whether you help us with dollars or miles or come and volunteer with us, we do really great work. Dogs give us so much. And so we want to help them end up in a great home,” Rigby said.

If you want to donate this Giving Tuesday or any day but can’t decide which of thousands of nonprofits to pick from, the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits has a great tool on its website that offers a member directory. That directory serves as a place to search nonprofits based on categories like animals, food or housing as well as an option to search based on county. This tool can help make sure your donations are going to places that are vetted by the center.