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One of my biggest pet peeves, is the fact that so many people reserve their charity and goodwill for the holidays. It goes from donations all the way to family. I often ponder as the season approaches, why the fuss, why so much emphasis on these select days. Shouldn't family get together year long- should it be obligatory, or a pleasurable get together, which has no schedule. Is it a business meeting or a family affair? Holidays, so much emphasis put on obligation, scheduling and formal mandates. As I begin to pack for my family vacation, I must say that I am looking forward to the family get together, but I ponder the necessity of the specificness of the event! Why travel during holiday rush hour...but I digress, because after all family is truly a blessing and I realize that my extended family is a huge part of our lives and of course the lives of my little ones. If I didn't have children the season would become quite horrendous. However I am blessed with two beautiful sons, whom have both grown, though only 3 and 6 and have suddenly engaged in the true holiday spirit, not being greedy. Yes, they will get a present, but the mountain list of nonsense from China will not occur this year in our household. This leads me to my second pet peeve: why is giving restricted or rather emphasized during the holidays? Do people not realize that needs are year round?
Why
don’t you give to charities, volunteer or care throughout the year? Why is it
you turn a blind eye to those less fortunate all year long, and then as the
holidays approach you donate a can or two, perhaps even a whole bag of canned
goods into the bin at your local grocery store? Maybe this year you might give
a turkey to the Salvation Army? As we approach the holiday season, we are
suddenly reminded about the spirit of giving. It all starts off with the Thanksgiving
holiday, and the reminder of bells that ring outside stores, Salvation Army
Bells, which provoke thoughts of merriment, the child hood chorus of “jingle
bells” fills our minds as we go into the store to buy presents. As you leave
the store you hear the bells once more, realizing your good fortune and the
contrast to those who are less fortunate, those who are hungry, who may be
homeless, or the children who will go without presents this year due to an
unfortunate economy. The ever present cheerful ringing of bells, serves as a
reminder as you leave arms weighed down with unnecessary luxuries; those
ringing bells: a reminder of having versus not having. So you give a little
during the holidays, a can here, a quarter there. Tis the season for giving,
but why must it be restricted to the holidays? Why has our society focused on
holiday giving, as though there is not a need all year? This holiday season, I
urge everyone to do their part, even if it means volunteering, but to take that
holiday spirit into the rest of the year. Don’t let Charity end with Christmas!
I highly support our local charities, and
frequently have various charities come on as guests throughout the year,
regardless of the season. This week as I read the Monterey County Gives section
of the Coast Weekly, I couldn’t help but think: why is that the only time charities
truly get promoted is during the holidays? There are many example of holiday
giving and awareness, from the Salvation Army to the Cherry Center, which is
promoting a documentary, entitled “Becoming Visible” about homelessness in
Monterey County throughout December. There are pages of wonderful and deserving
charities, all with yearly budgets clearly marked, emphasis on “yearly
budgets.” These organizations have year round needs, yet it is during the
holiday season when they are placed into the spotlight. Is it merely that this
is the most charitable season, is it because charitable giving is highlighted
during the holidays? Perhaps it is simply that so many splurge and are overcome
by guilt, that donations rise during the holidays? I propose that everyday
should be a day that we are thankful, that you act charitable regardless of
season, that everyday should be a day that we help our neighbors. Even if you
can’t give a lot, try to to give a little, even if it only means your time, helping
a friend or neighbor, or even by bringing about awareness throughout the entire
year. As we move forward into the holiday season, I encourage everyone to
consider extending the seasonal giving, and that each of us should carry the
holiday spirit throughout the year.
Recently
I spoke with Susan Tiffany, director of the Salvation Army. She spoke of the
need for turkeys for Thanksgiving, and of the Christmas drive which provides
food and toys to needy families. However, we all know that there is a need for
food throughout the year. Earlier in the year, I spoke with Ms. Tiffany about
the ongoing needs throughout the year. The Salvation Army helps people year
round, with rental assistance, utilities and food; yet the giving is heightened
and promoted much more during the holiday season. This goes for other
charities, from Rancho Cielo, which deals with troubled youths to the Marine
Life Sanctuary, all charities with ongoing needs, which are all a part of the
Monterey County Gives drive.
The Monterey County Gives is a wonderful organization
which has a list of charities that they work with, again the drive runs through
the end of December. Will you give to a favorite charity, perhaps help out, or be
a volunteer during the holidays. The real question is why the focus on holiday
giving; I have researched giving statistics by the month, which shows that
donations are significantly higher during the holidays. According to
blackbaud.com’s index of online giving, the Arts and Cultural Organizations
received the highest donations in December, the same held true for Animal
Welfare donations, which again were the highest in December (https://www.blackbaud.com/files/graphs/bbindex-online-environmental.html).
Raymund Flandez’s article in The
Chronicle of Philantrhopy, “More Proof That December Is Critical to
Charities’ Annual Giving” also shows that holiday giving is critical to
charities: “A third of charities’ online donations this year are made in
December” (http://philanthropy.com/blogs/prospecting/more-proof-that-december-is-critical-to-charities-annual-giving/28098).
Regardless of the reason, it is clear that giving peaks during the Holidays.
While
I find the holiday generosity to be a blessing to the charities that rely on
the kindness and generosity of people, I urge you to consider the rest of the
year. I think about the food banks that have mouths to feed year round and less
food to give. The day to day struggle of the poor and the sad fact that “while
the number of needy families steadily rises, the amount of food available
rapidly declines” (Caldwell, Michelle.There’s
not enough food or funds to feed the hungry in Monterey County, Monterey
County Weekly)
Would you rather be homeless or
hungry? According to the Hunger in America 2010 report, 50% of the client
households (compared to 9% nationally) served by the Monterey County Food Bank
have had to make that decision. In Santa Cruz and San Benito counties, 25% of
the people served are homeless (15% higher than the national average). Worse, hunger
impacts our most vulnerable population in California counties, 45% of the
hungry served by food banks in Santa Cruz and San Benito counties are children
under 18 years old (compared to 38% nationwide). Despite the abundance of food grown here,
hunger is an epidemic in our tri-county area. Salinas Valley has long been
considered the ‘Salad Bowl of the World’, yet unemployment in the City of
Salinas is at 22%, compared to the statewide average of 12.8% (California EDD –
2010), hence many salad bowls are empty”(Ag Against Hunger, Who is Ag Against
Hunger Helping?).
Holiday giving is a
tremendous help to many families throughout Monterey County, and integral to
the yearly budget of many charitable organizations, however, the issue remains
that hunger and poverty are not restricted to the holidays. “ ‘People are very
generous in November and December,’ Sunny says. ‘Unfortunately, by the time
summer comes, we’re busy with vacations, weddings and graduations. The whole
issue of hunger isn’t at the top of the list. On top of that, most people don’t
want to acknowledge that hunger happens in Monterey County. That’s third world
countries, not here’ ‘(Caldwell). Homelessness is a daily sorrow which affects
an estimated 3,472 annually in people in Monterey County according to the
Monterey County Homeless Census 2011- interim (www.interiminc.org/wp-content/media/HomelessCensusMOCO-06-15-11-2mb.pdf
p 12). These homeless and poverty stricken people, are in need regardless of
the season; they need help year round. Unfortunately, “hunger doesn’t take a
summer vacation” (Caldwell). While I am a big supporter of holiday charity, I
urge each and every one to be aware of the need for food and other donations
year round. The fact is that homelessness is not seasonal. Hunger doesn’t wait
for November and December to come around. As you sit down to dinner this
Thanksgiving and Christmas, or pass by a Salvation Army bell ringer, give what
you can, volunteer if you can, but remember that the need continues throughout
the year and that every little bit helps regardless of the season.
Why
don’t you give to charities, volunteer or care throughout the year? Why is it
you turn a blind eye to those less fortunate all year long, and then as the
holidays approach you donate a can or two, perhaps even a whole bag of canned
goods into the bin at your local grocery store? Maybe this year you might give
a turkey to the Salvation Army? As we approach the holiday season, we are
suddenly reminded about the spirit of giving. It all starts off with the Thanksgiving
holiday, and the reminder of bells that ring outside stores, Salvation Army
Bells, which provoke thoughts of merriment, the child hood chorus of “jingle
bells” fills our minds as we go into the store to buy presents. As you leave
the store you hear the bells once more, realizing your good fortune and the
contrast to those who are less fortunate, those who are hungry, who may be
homeless, or the children who will go without presents this year due to an
unfortunate economy. The ever present cheerful ringing of bells, serves as a
reminder as you leave arms weighed down with unnecessary luxuries; those
ringing bells: a reminder of having versus not having. So you give a little
during the holidays, a can here, a quarter there. Tis the season for giving,
but why must it be restricted to the holidays? Why has our society focused on
holiday giving, as though there is not a need all year? This holiday season, I
urge everyone to do their part, even if it means volunteering, but to take that
holiday spirit into the rest of the year. Don’t let Charity end with Christmas!
I highly support our local charities, and
frequently have various charities come on as guests throughout the year,
regardless of the season. This week as I read the Monterey County Gives section
of the Coast Weekly, I couldn’t help but think: why is that the only time charities
truly get promoted is during the holidays? There are many example of holiday
giving and awareness, from the Salvation Army to the Cherry Center, which is
promoting a documentary, entitled “Becoming Visible” about homelessness in
Monterey County throughout December. There are pages of wonderful and deserving
charities, all with yearly budgets clearly marked, emphasis on “yearly
budgets.” These organizations have year round needs, yet it is during the
holiday season when they are placed into the spotlight. Is it merely that this
is the most charitable season, is it because charitable giving is highlighted
during the holidays? Perhaps it is simply that so many splurge and are overcome
by guilt, that donations rise during the holidays? I propose that everyday
should be a day that we are thankful, that you act charitable regardless of
season, that everyday should be a day that we help our neighbors. Even if you
can’t give a lot, try to to give a little, even if it only means your time, helping
a friend or neighbor, or even by bringing about awareness throughout the entire
year. As we move forward into the holiday season, I encourage everyone to
consider extending the seasonal giving, and that each of us should carry the
holiday spirit throughout the year.
Recently
I spoke with Susan Tiffany, director of the Salvation Army. She spoke of the
need for turkeys for Thanksgiving, and of the Christmas drive which provides
food and toys to needy families. However, we all know that there is a need for
food throughout the year. Earlier in the year, I spoke with Ms. Tiffany about
the ongoing needs throughout the year. The Salvation Army helps people year
round, with rental assistance, utilities and food; yet the giving is heightened
and promoted much more during the holiday season. This goes for other
charities, from Rancho Cielo, which deals with troubled youths to the Marine
Life Sanctuary, all charities with ongoing needs, which are all a part of the
Monterey County Gives drive.
The Monterey County Gives is a wonderful organization
which has a list of charities that they work with, again the drive runs through
the end of December. Will you give to a favorite charity, perhaps help out, or be
a volunteer during the holidays. The real question is why the focus on holiday
giving; I have researched giving statistics by the month, which shows that
donations are significantly higher during the holidays. According to
blackbaud.com’s index of online giving, the Arts and Cultural Organizations
received the highest donations in December, the same held true for Animal
Welfare donations, which again were the highest in December (https://www.blackbaud.com/files/graphs/bbindex-online-environmental.html).
Raymund Flandez’s article in The
Chronicle of Philantrhopy, “More Proof That December Is Critical to
Charities’ Annual Giving” also shows that holiday giving is critical to
charities: “A third of charities’ online donations this year are made in
December” (http://philanthropy.com/blogs/prospecting/more-proof-that-december-is-critical-to-charities-annual-giving/28098).
Regardless of the reason, it is clear that giving peaks during the Holidays.
While
I find the holiday generosity to be a blessing to the charities that rely on
the kindness and generosity of people, I urge you to consider the rest of the
year. I think about the food banks that have mouths to feed year round and less
food to give. The day to day struggle of the poor and the sad fact that “while
the number of needy families steadily rises, the amount of food available
rapidly declines” (Caldwell, Michelle.There’s
not enough food or funds to feed the hungry in Monterey County, Monterey
County Weekly)
Would you rather be homeless or
hungry? According to the Hunger in America 2010 report, 50% of the client
households (compared to 9% nationally) served by the Monterey County Food Bank
have had to make that decision. In Santa Cruz and San Benito counties, 25% of
the people served are homeless (15% higher than the national average). Worse, hunger
impacts our most vulnerable population in California counties, 45% of the
hungry served by food banks in Santa Cruz and San Benito counties are children
under 18 years old (compared to 38% nationwide). Despite the abundance of food grown here,
hunger is an epidemic in our tri-county area. Salinas Valley has long been
considered the ‘Salad Bowl of the World’, yet unemployment in the City of
Salinas is at 22%, compared to the statewide average of 12.8% (California EDD –
2010), hence many salad bowls are empty”(Ag Against Hunger, Who is Ag Against
Hunger Helping?).
Holiday giving is a
tremendous help to many families throughout Monterey County, and integral to
the yearly budget of many charitable organizations, however, the issue remains
that hunger and poverty are not restricted to the holidays. “ ‘People are very
generous in November and December,’ Sunny says. ‘Unfortunately, by the time
summer comes, we’re busy with vacations, weddings and graduations. The whole
issue of hunger isn’t at the top of the list. On top of that, most people don’t
want to acknowledge that hunger happens in Monterey County. That’s third world
countries, not here’ ‘(Caldwell). Homelessness is a daily sorrow which affects
an estimated 3,472 annually in people in Monterey County according to the
Monterey County Homeless Census 2011- interim (www.interiminc.org/wp-content/media/HomelessCensusMOCO-06-15-11-2mb.pdf
p 12). These homeless and poverty stricken people, are in need regardless of
the season; they need help year round. Unfortunately, “hunger doesn’t take a
summer vacation” (Caldwell). While I am a big supporter of holiday charity, I
urge each and every one to be aware of the need for food and other donations
year round. The fact is that homelessness is not seasonal. Hunger doesn’t wait
for November and December to come around. As you sit down to dinner this
Thanksgiving and Christmas, or pass by a Salvation Army bell ringer, give what
you can, volunteer if you can, but remember that the need continues throughout
the year and that every little bit helps regardless of the season.
