Kelli Carter ~ Staff Writer
It is the beginning of the holiday season and that means gifts and family time is right around the corner. For some, the holiday season is one of the most depressing time of the year because they do not have family to spend it with or have little money for food or gifts. This happens every year for some and it is up to the more fortunate ones to give back in order to spread the love.
Kris Putnam-Walkerly, the author of Confident Giving said, “Children who grow up in families with strong giving traditions are more likely to carry on that tradition and give charitably as adults. It is also reported that they are more likely to be happy and have closer relationships with their families.”
Charities that people tend to give more to during this time of the year are St. Jude which helps with childhood cancer research, The Make-A-Wish Foundation which helps kids fulfill their dying wishes, and the Salvation Army. These are great foundations to give to, but giving back to local charities can go a long way as well. Going to a soup kitchen, passing out blankets, or even doing a toy drive can make an impact.
Anna Herriott, a senior, said, “During Christmas and New Years, my family and I went to our local soup kitchen to see what we can do to help. It may be only just one time of year that we choose to do this as a family, but I feel like the help that we give can go a long way. I want to try and go more when I am on breaks for sure. This is definitely a tradition that I would like to pass down to my kids.”
Soup kitchens allow for people to build these relationships with one another and this ultimately creates a sense of family, which is nice to have during the holiday season when it can be lonely without one.
Richard Brewster, a second-year student, said, “I feel like the holiday season is a great time to give back to people less fortunate than you because not everyone is able to afford celebrating the holidays, so giving back to families through donations is a great way to make the holidays a reality for many families.”
This year, try and give back even if it is only a dollar. That dollar will help someone have a better holiday season. If everyone could donate at least a dollar, then the holiday season could be a lot brighter for so many people.