Help Those Less Fortunate This Holiday Season

When you are planning your holiday shopping this season, please don't forget those who are less fortunate. Those of us who are able to afford to help those in need should do so. You never know when the tide will turn, and you might find yourself and your family in that situation. There are many ways in which you can help the less fortunate this Holiday season.

Many grocery stores have bins in which you may place can goods and nonperishables that you wish to donate, that will be distributed to the local food banks, who then in turn will distribute the needed food items to those who would otherwise go hungry this Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's without your kind donations.

The Super 1 Food store in my hometown, has prepackaged paper bags filled with can goods, and other needed nonperishables for the holiday meal. These paper bags were priced at the special price of $5.00, each bag was to go to a less fortunate family, who is in need. You could buy one or more, depending on the amount of money that you can spare.

Many department stores, including Wal-Mart, usually have Angel Trees set up in which, children's names are listed, along with a specific wish item, that they would like to receive this Christmas. These are in the form of a tag, that is hung upon the tree as an ornament. You simply choose a tag, purchase the wished for gift item/items, and turn the purchased items over to the associate at the service desk. They will make sure the item/items are distributed to the proper organization, who will then get the gifts to the child in need.

Contact your local Salvation Army or Department of Human Services, ask them if they have any children that are in need of someone to buy their Christmas. This is an excellent way to help those less fortunate. You will be provided a list of items that the child needs, including shoe and clothing size and toy preferences. You will get to play Santa Claus, and provide for this particular child a merry Christmas morning, that he/she would not have received had you not helped.

Other ways to help the less fortunate this holiday season is to donate your time. Local charity organizations may be in need of people to help deliver Christmas meals or gifts. You might help with assembly of bikes or toys. Local Churches may need volunteers to help cook for a community meal to feed those less fortunate. You might volunteer to deliver meals to those who are home bound, and offer a few words of cheer, maybe a small gift, that you purchased yourself to brighten their Christmas day.

As you can see, there are many ways to help those less fortunate this holiday season. You will have a very merry Christmas indeed, knowing that you are partly responsible for helping someone else, who is less fortunate, to have a wonderful Christmas, that they otherwise would not have had, without your kindness.