Don't Forget the Disadvantaged and Downtrodden this Holiday Season

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, especially in these covid days, life can become self-centered and inwardly focused. Why not make your holiday season more enjoyable and meaningful by helping others with their cares and worries. You may find that your cares and worries are not as big a deal as you thought. Winter is beginning to bite in the northern States. 

You keep walking by those same old pair of boots in the muck room, or laundry room, or garage. The winter boots are in excellent shape but do not fit your bozo-shaped feet anymore. Make sure you donate them to the local thrift shop because a poor kid would be glad to pay a dollar and wear those boots this winter. Seek out the local thrift shops ran by volunteers because those blue-haired gals know who needs the help in the community. Your donations will help folks in your local area.

Avoid donating to the big-box thrift stores since a lot of money is stuffed into pockets before the dough ever helps anyone. The big-box thrift stores do not help the people in the community directly; instead, the money from the store goes into a big pot where lots of greedy hands are involved.

When you open the laundry room closet, you remember that your winter coat does not fit properly anymore and you vowed to buy a new one for this season. Donate that winter coat and any spare or out of fashion scarves and gloves. See what other clothes are around the house you no longer wear. Toss them into a bag as well. Someone disadvantaged would be happy to buy them at the thrift store for a nominal charge (25 cents 50 cents, or a buck or two). It is important that all people maintain self-worth and dignity and children note this behavior as they grow and learn.

Do not forget your local food bank that takes donations such as canned goods and pasta as well as cash donations. Lots of folks opine how they never expected to be in a food line ever in their life and they feel ashamed. There is nothing to be ashamed about. Everyone faces tough times in life. So clean out your kitchen pantry; there are canned goods there you do not plan on eating. Put them in a box and drop them off at the food bank. Someone poor will be glad to eat them. Happy Holidays!