Yes it's that time of the year. Time for good tidings of joy, happy holidays, Christmas cheer and lots of guilt. I have it every year when I see stocked shelves full of toys and gadgets that will end up under the Christmas tree, freezers at the grocery store full of frozen turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner and people filling up their carts with candy and cookies. We live in the land of plenty and should be thankful that we have all this. We all work hard every day. We earned this. Nothing to feel guilty about...right?
I walk out of the store and act like I am checking my text messages so I don't have to make eye contact with the guy standing in the cold ringing the Salvation Army bell by the donation kettle. I throw out last nights dinner to make room in the fridge for the leftover turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes. I'm full but I go get one more piece of pie just because it's a holiday and I can indulge. I do it every year and I am sure many of you do the same things. So, if I just eat one less piece of pie that will help. Maybe if everyone would buy less for Christmas it would help. Oh wait, then sales would go down at stores, hours would be cut, people might lose jobs....sigh. I need an answer.
Maybe I could volunteer at a local shelter and serve meals. Sure, but I am so busy! I just don't have time. I could organize a food drive and collect canned food, but then again I am so very busy. At the very least couldn't I just make sure I always put a dollar in the Salvation Army kettle when I walk by? What if everyone did that? I see people walk by it all the time without doing anything. Just one dollar. One. That would make a huge difference and I wouldn't have to feel guilty, well not AS guilty.
Leftovers. I still waste so much food. What can I do about that? I sure can't save it and give it away. That's just not safe and kind of gross. How about an old coffee can, label it "Leftovers" then every time something gets thrown out of the fridge a dollar goes in it. Each month (yes do this all year long) donate the money to a local food bank, Red Cross or Salvation army. OR you could just go buy a bag of groceries and take it to the local food bank.
Hey, this is pretty simple! It doesn't really take any time and I end up helping. If a lot of us do this think how much it could impact. JUST ONE DOLLAR! So, go to the bank and break a $20 into singles. Then keep them in your coat pocket. Every time you pass a kettle, in goes a dollar. Each month you have a coffee can with change to donate. If you cut back on wasting leftovers then add a little to the can.
There is power in numbers. If just I do this it won't make much of a difference, but if you tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and so on, and so on... this can help a lot.
While we're on the topic, why not do something to support our troops serving overseas. Here is a website with links to help out.
http://www.military.com/spouse/military-life/military-resources/how-to-support-our-troops.html
Merry Christmas
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