'Tis the Season to Help the Needy

Do not forget the downtrodden and less fortunate people during this holiday season. Many poor kids need warmer coats so clean your closet out and take the coats, gloves, knit caps, ear muffs, sweaters and other winter clothes to your local thrift shop. Do not donate them to the large nation-wide chain store thrift stops, instead, search out one of the local thrift shops in your area ran by the blue-haired gal's and silver-haired gentlemen. They are far more active at directly helping the disadvantaged folks in your local area.

Clean your pantry and kitchen shelves of canned goods. Place them in a bag and drop them off at the food bank or at a local thrift store (most take the food donations). 

Local thrift shops and other charitable organizations always need volunteers and would be happy to see you there one day a week to help out. Hospitals and senior centers are always grateful for volunteers. Volunteering is a lot of fun, you meet a lot of people, you help people, it is all-around good stuff.

Encourage the company you work for to start a Paid Volunteer Program if they do not already have one; place a note in the suggestion box at work if you are shy. The program allows employees to volunteer one day per month at a place of their choosing and in return, the company still pays the employee for a regular day's wages. It gives the worker a breather day away from the office or shop while at the same time helps a local charity or hospital. The company can brag that they are a steward of the community. The employee typically makes a commitment to the program for one year so that would be volunteering 12 times, but a company can set things up anyway they want; do only 5 or 6 times if you are a smaller business with less employees.

The other day, a lady came into the local thrift store with a bag full of crocheted winter hats. Keystone asked what the story was on the hats. She explained that all year she knits the hats and then distributes them to churches and thrift shops in December for them to give to the needy or if they want to sell them to make some money to help folks. This lady does not have any money, she is as poor as a church mouse, and yet she spends a few hours each day during the year in a selfless act to help other people. That is amazing.

Compassion, empathy and patience is lost in today's society. Young and middle-aged folks, thinking they are big-shots, with eyes and attention glued to computer and smartphone screens, must realize that fellowship among other humans is a necessity for a balanced mental life and not an option. Helping others makes you feel good. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Good Luck to All.