When the trees change color and the weather turns cold, so begins the season of giving. Most celebrate this time of the year by adopting a more positive attitude. Sometimes, it’s a change as small as wearing a smile to brighten someone else’s day. Another could be someone taking the time to volunteer at a local community center. And some take their generosity to the highest level they can, donating more than just their loose change to any and all charities they come across.
All are sweet gestures, but when they’re all done at once, it can ring a little hollow. Donation centers and volunteer groups seem to be at the forefront of everyone’s mind when the snow starts to pile up, but once the Christmas lights come off the tree, they’re barely an afterthought.
It seems people today are only interested in getting on Santa’s nice list as opposed to actually wanting to change anything. Their volunteer hours and hefty handouts are just a means to an end.
This problem has gotten to the point where many organizations depend on this seasonal generosity to keep the lights on. Charity ads play at the start of every YouTube video and volunteer posters are slapped onto every service they can stick to, asking for people to “lend a hand this holiday season.”
These ads often include a holiday mascot to not only keep the audience’s attention, but to also add some sort of pun or silly speech bubble promising that their act of kindness won’t go unnoticed.
Stop to think how many shelves in the food pantry were stocked simply because someone felt inspired by the holiday spirit. How many shelters see an increase in volunteers because someone didn’t want someone left in the cold for the holidays?
But people need help year-round, and it shouldn’t take a holiday for us to lend a hand to those who are suffering. You shouldn’t do things because you’ll get some red and green colored reward. Help the people around you because they need help.
Times are tough and it’s important to be there for your neighbors. Don’t just lend your time during the holiday season — show you genuinely care by helping year-round.
Hardships don’t end when the snow starts to melt.