Message from Lisa
This time of year is magical because of all of the decorations and the twinkly lights. Families and friends coming together makes it a very special time of year. My favorite part of the holiday season is the opportunity to give to others. When I was a teenager and my Christmas morning was no longer dominated by what Santa brought, my Mom started a family tradition of volunteering at a holiday meal for people experiencing homelessness. It made a profound impression on me as a young person growing up not wanting for anything – getting to help people who had nothing, who were sick, cold, tired, and defeated. Seeing how much they needed help and how grateful they were that someone cared enough to spend Christmas morning serving them was just amazing.
This year my oldest who is 17 brought home a service opportunity their school was facilitating to help families living in poverty to provide a Christmas to their families. Near our comfortable little private school, there is a public elementary school where 100% of the families live below the poverty level. We adopted a family of six from this school and had the best time shopping for them, wrapping the gifts, and delivering them to the school. Their needs were recorded by social workers and were very basic things like socks, underwear, and a winter coat. But we were also allowed to buy them bicycles and toys. It was the most important and rewarding thing we will do this holiday season.
I encourage everyone to find opportunities this holiday season to volunteer or give. You don’t have to be wealthy to give to others. There are so many opportunities to give your time as a volunteer or make a donation. I recall a fundraiser I used to run this time of year. There was one friend who lived very much paycheck to paycheck and ran with a much wealthier crowd. He always gave me $25.00 for the fundraiser. Others who were far more wealthy gave nothing. I always cherished his donation above all others.
If you are interested in volunteering or giving, just do a Google search for “holiday volunteer opportunities near me.” I can say from experience as a daughter and as a mother, doing it with your children is a wonderful experience.
I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Solstice, Kwanza, or whatever tradition you adhere to and a prosperous, joyful, and healthy 2023.
-Lisa
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