Giving Tuesday

BAKERSFIELD, CA - After Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, Tuesday was Giving Tuesday. It's a day people are encouraged to give back to their community by making a charitable donation.

Giving Tuesday has only been around for two years, but here locally it's catching on.

New boots, stilettos, and slip-ons are proof Giving Tuesday is gaining traction and helping out Dress for Success.

"The generosity, it's overwhelming," said Jennifer Stonebraker with Dress for Success.

The non-profit helps dress women entering the workforce. And, since Cinderella proved to audiences that the right pair of shoes can change a life, Tuesday, they collected bags and boxes full of them.

"Oh, it feels great," said Annette Wells who donated. "I know when people have given to me when I have needed, and I wanted the opportunity to pay it forward so you say."

"I know that just the little bit that we are helping them hopefully they will get that job. It's really pretty cool," said Kathy Waterman who donated.

Their donations will be added to the first of the morning made by a couple from Bakersfield.

"They came in actually fifteen minutes prior to the time starting so I said, yeah! The first people, 17 pairs of shoes! And, she and her husband came in," explained Stonebraker.

That couple is Pam and Bill Prewett. After donating shoes, the pair gave their time volunteering at Alpha Canine Sanctuary.

"Oh my," said Pam. "They give more to us than anything we could ever give to them."

The Prewetts are among just a few volunteers helping the 100 dogs housed at the rescue. And, on Giving Tuesday, they gave each one of the dogs waiting to be adopted, a little of themselves. They hope the goodness in Giving Tuesday spreads to others to cover all the other days in the year.

"It's very easy to sit down and write a check, very, very easy to do that. It's much more difficult to give your time. And, that's so important. If people only knew that it's so rewarding," said Pam.

At last count Tuesday evening, Dress for Success had collected 80 pairs of shoes. That's less than they 200 they collected last year. They always accept donations of gently used or new shoes and career wear for women. They are located at 1416 17th Street in downtown Bakersfield.

If you're interested in volunteering at Alpha K9, visit