Americans survived the Black Friday frenzy and Cyber Monday's record breaking sales but it's time to switch gears.

Today is 'Giving Tuesday', a day to remember that the holidays aren't just about how much you can stuff in your shopping cart.

The Center for Families knows all about what it's like to make it through tough times. One of the toughest -- spending the holidays needing help and feeling like there's nowhere to turn.

"This time of year, children especially, but adults as well, are looking for the love and caring that our society often times advertises, if you will," says Counselor Karen Kersten.

Kersten has counseled at The Center for 13 years. She says donations received during 'Giving Tuesday' -- and throughout the year -- stretch farther than most people probably realize.

"There are many families that have no financial means to have access to the services that The Center for Families provides."

The non-profit here in Shreveport is just one of over 2,100 organizations across the nation, hoping that 'Giving Tuesday' will gain momentum and become a permanent national day for giving.

"We have children and adults recovering from sex abuse issues or other physical or emotional abuse circumstances and typically, by bringing in funds to help support that, we can open up that opportunity to more people that need it," explains Executive Director, Laura Brucia Hamm.

Hamm says the center, which provides a variety of mental health services, depends heavily on donations to continue those programs.

"We really want to raise awareness for people to be considerate of what's going on in our own community, in our own neighborhoods, in our own families."

The idea for the campaign sprung last year from Henry Timms, deputy executive director of the Jewish Community Center, and Kathy Calvin, CEO of the United Nations Foundation.

The idea gained steam and there are now 2,106 partners listed on 'Giving Tuesday's' website.

These include schools, non-profits, corporations and religious groups.

The Center for Families began in Shreveport back in 1889 and provides abuse, anger management, anxiety, depression and relationship counseling, among other services.

When you donate, you can choose which area of the agency you'd like your contribution to fund.

For information on how to donate or volunteer your time, click here.