The season of giving

Everyone I talk to says they are behind in their plans. The gifts aren’t wrapped yet, or the baking is not done, or the tree isn’t up. Judging from the traffic I was in yesterday and the full parking lots I saw, the shopping isn’t finished either. As we all rush around to try and check everything off our list, I wanted us to pause and think of the giving part of the season, instead of the receiving part, and remember the true spirit of this time of year.

I know it can be overwhelming to think of all the different places there are in the world that need help. We are bombarded with images of starving children and endangered animals. We get calls about helping in all kinds of ways. There are letters that come in the mail, and even e-mail now can solicit your aid. I believe everyone tries in their own way to share, and I know the statistics say that it is often those who can least afford it who tend to give a higher ratio. (Maybe they better understand the need? I don’t know why it works that way.) Whether you believe in the religious side of this festive season or your reasons for celebrating are more of an agnostic nature, I think we can all agree that part of the magic of the season is the sharing, the giving. We cannot single-handedly solve the problems of the world, but we can each give a little bit and make it a better place.

Since we deal with food on most occasions, I will mention the most closely linked organization – the community Food Banks. Sharing a meal with loved ones is a basic experience to be able to enjoy, and a good place to start during the holiday season if you are looking to give. I talked to Faith at the Westside Community Food Bank (yes, that really is her name) and I found out how large their need is and how easy it is to help.

You can donate food at any of the local grocery stores, and of course there are community events as well. Did you also know that if you have cash to donate, it has three times the power we get when we spend it? If you don’t have money but can offer time, you can help put together one of the 94 hampers they need for next week this Saturday from 1-4 pm. They are setting records for attendance, Faith told me, and that’s not a good thing in their business. The situation is the same all over, unfortunately. You can contact your local community food bank by phone or e-mail to ask how you can help. Just Google them, look them up in the phone book, or even find them on Facebook. On the Westside, their location is 2545 Churchill Road, if you want to come and build hampers on Saturday.

I hope you don’t find this week’s column pushy. If the Food Bank is not your thing, then perhaps a wee something in the Salvation Army kettle is the way to go. Or there are the missions, the shelters for single parent families, the SPCA if you want to help the four-legged folk. Your church or children’s school may be helping a charity. All you need to remember is that every little bit helps. If we can all give a little bit of ourselves, think of the power of all that good karma!

All the best of the season to you from Martin and I here at Rabbit Hollow.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.