It’s that time of year again, and as much as part of me dreads the rush of the upcoming holidays, when they actually get here, the dread goes away. I believe it has a lot to do with age as time just flies by faster and before you know it, the holidays are upon us.
It’s that time of year again, and as much as part of me dreads the rush of the upcoming holidays, when they actually get here, the dread goes away. I believe it has a lot to do with age as time just flies by faster and before you know it, the holidays are upon us.
We have so many organizations here in East County that are already hard at work to make sure that our local kids have toys for Christmas, and families have traditional meals beginning with Thanksgiving. But these organizations cannot be successful without the help of the entire community. Can you imagine what would happen if every family in East County provided one toy and one piece of imperishable food to the organization of their choice? It would be miraculous for these organizations, but more so for the recipients of all the labor of love volunteer hours put forth during the holiday season.
For anyone who knows what it is like to go without, this is a no brainer, but I cannot tell you the joy that comes from giving back without expecting anything in return. I have seen many smiling faces, grateful parents and kids jumping for joy, all due to the kindness of strangers.
Not only can you participate by donating toys and food but there is not an organization around here that does not need more volunteers to package, deliver, sort and all the things that need to be done to make these programs successful. So, if you are able, find an organization in your community, which should be no problem at all and give your time. It is an infinite gift. You might never see the results of your labor, but that is what this is all about. And selfless giving comes back ten-fold in your life, something I strongly believe as when I need something the most, it always comes to me. Those are facts in my life that I just cannot deny.
Call it reaping what you sow, karma, or anything else, but in my opinion, giving without expectations is one of the greatest gifts of all, with the most abundant rewards.
Our local charities are already pushing with fundraisers, events and drives to make this holiday season as best as it can be. And as much as it irks me to already see Christmas decorations before Halloween, this part of holiday activities is a year-round effort and already needs all of our help.
We are already posting all of these drives and events on our Facebook page and will continue to do so until the deadline is over. So if you do not have an organization to support, take a gander at what we are pushing out on our social media from all of our East County communities and get involved. Not only that, get your family, neighbors, friends and colleagues involved and let’s make this holiday season one that many underserved families will never forget.
