By Staff
Charity isn't anything new, but it's something we all need to consider even more this year than ever before.
Just last week a national radio show had a guest on that spoke about how much a little shoebox full of stuff had changed her life.
I've filled a shoebox before and only at that moment, being moved by the words of the now-grown woman, did I realize how much difference the tiniest objects can make.
Locally, Southern Pine Electric Cooperative is serving as a drop-off station for shoeboxes filled with goodies for the Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box event. I'm sure there are countless youth groups, church organizations as well as other civic organizations that are filling shoeboxes to be included in the drop off at Southern Pine.
I began to recall the items I had placed in those shoeboxes before. I can remember purchasing combs, brushes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, barrettes, hair clips, Hot Wheels cars, socks, gloves and other similar items.
Who could ever know what a difference those simple items that we take for granted could make in a child's life.
As I think about the approaching holidays, I plan to be a better person. It only takes a few minutes and just a handful of dollars to help make a child's life better if only for a moment.
When you consider your holiday shopping list this year, I hope that you won't forget those who are less fortunate.
We are a lucky bunch of people here in South Alabama. Even though the economy is looking a little grim, I have not noticed a dramatic change in the spending habits of people I'm familiar with.
I continue to eat lunch every day. I continue to make those quick trips to the video store and even make an extra trip through the grocery store just about every week. There are still snacks at my house (none of which anyone in my family needs) and you can rest assured I'm drinking coffee every day I wake up. Even though I'm cutting back some on how much my family eats out, it's more for health reasons than for financial ones.
I hope that people will consider skipping the snack foods just once or twice a week until the holidays are done. I plan on bringing leftovers from home one or two days a week until after the holidays to help cut down on the fast food I eat. As an added bonus, I plan to take the extra $10 and put it towards sponsoring an angel from a local Christmas tree.
Just think, if I save $10 a week for the next five or six weeks, I could sponsor at least two angels and even fill a couple of shoeboxes in the process.
With the price of everything going up at stores across the country, it may seem like a hardship to donate to a local charity for the holidays.
With Thanksgiving just a couple of weeks away, I hope that you remember all of the things you have to be thankful for even if times are tough. Remember those who have less than you and express your thanks by giving.
You may never know if your kindness and act of thanksgiving actually benefits anyone, but I guarantee you'll be a better person for giving.
Lisa Tindell is news editor for The Brewton Standard. She can be reached at 867-4876 or by email at lisa.tindell@brewtonstandard.com.