It's rare to enter a store in Washington County and not see signs of an organization looking to help those in need.
The holiday season is when we see donation efforts, food and gift drives and fundraisers ramp up in order to help the less fortunate put food on the table, gifts under the tree and stay comfortable.
The Salvation Army's red kettles return soon, boxes for the Optimist gift drive are out, applications are being accepted for Shop with a Cop and many more organizations have ramped up their annual efforts.
These heartfelt pleas for a couple of cans of food, a few dollars or a new gift are what makes the holiday season special throughout the country. We see communities come together and give time and talent to make sure everyone can have a Happy Holidays and beyond.
With an increase in economic uncertainty and inflation in recent years, it's understandable if donations of these sort aren't in the budget this year. Those obstacles are reasons the needs for these services have increased throughout the area. If you are able, however, please do so. Grabbing one more box of food or a couple of small toys while knocking out your Christmas shopping can mean more to a family than can be written here.
If you are unable to donate but have an extra hour here and there, one way you can still help out is by volunteering. Most of these organizations are looking for help in order to execute their holiday plans. Just an hour or two can make a big difference for these efforts.
There are so many ways to help and so many people to help. This time of year, when commercials and shopping specials cloud the meaning of the holidays, remember your neighbors in need and donate time or resources when you can.
