the West Seattle Rotary Children’s Winter Clothing Shopping Spree, December 2013
Each holiday season and approaching year’s end bring new opportunities to look upon the year past and to look forward to what the New Year may hold. As many of us bask in the glory of the holiday season, line up early for holiday sales, and adorn our homes with ornaments and lights, there are many in our community who experience a very different holiday season. For so many, this season of merriment and joy does not hold the same promise of prosperity, presents, and plans for the future. Knowing this, we have the unique and special opportunity to join others as we make some small impact on the lives of those less fortunate during this season of giving and throughout the coming year. Here are some ways:
Give Time: Volunteer at a local food bank or shelter. Prepare or serve Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve meals to those who might otherwise go hungry. Or lend a hand at a local clothing or toy drive. For example, each year, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® joins Rotary International of West Seattle for their annual shopping spree that provides hundreds of local children with much needed coats, shoes and winter attire. No matter how you exercise your personal passion, your time is the most valuable and least expensive thing you can provide during this time of giving.
Give Resources: Towards the end of each year, food banks begin to run low on supplies as they attempt to provide healthy meals to families in need. In addition, many children are in need of coats, gloves, and other winter essentials. As you shop for your turkey and other accompaniments, why not pick up a bag of groceries to leave in the food collection bin in your local grocery store? Or could you grab an extra toy while shopping for your little loved ones and then drop it off at a local toy drive, such as the annual Mt. Zion Baptist Church clothing and toy drive on December 20th? It doesn’t require much to donate to your favorite organization that is making an impact in the lives of others.
Give Hope: One of the simplest and most profound things we can ever do, especially during the holiday season, is to simply give others hope through our positive thoughts, words and deeds. Giving hope can be as easy as expressing a sincere word of thanks to someone you see each day or giving a smile to the homeless man you pass on the street as you head into the office. Sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness can renew someone’s faith and hope in the promise of a better tomorrow.
Providing resources can seem like the simplest of acts we can do as we move through our busy lives. However, giving someone your time and a little ounce of hope has the unique ability to leave both the giver and the receiver with an enormous feeling of joy and connectedness. As we celebrate and rejoice over the coming weeks, let us resolve to bring forth a spirit of giving, service, and hope during this holiday season, and beyond.
