Giving Back During the Holidays

There is no lack of stories and films written about the true spirit of the holidays, but the flood of price tags, packages, and items on your to-do list during the month of December can make a lot of us forget what this time of year is really about. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the tedium: What do I get for so-and-so? What if Aunt Susan thinks my turkey is too dry? What are we doing to celebrate New Year’s Eve?

As we close out 2021, we must remind ourselves that the holidays are about giving: extending a generous hand to our fellow human. And this year, it is especially important to give back to one’s community–whether near or far, global or local. It has been a difficult several years. All over the country, we’ve seen the devastating impact of Coronavirus in vulnerable communities and the toll of extreme weather-related events. We’re experiencing inflation in our economy and the binaries that divide our great nation fare no better than this time last year. What we need now more than ever are the expressions of the true meaning of the holiday season: generosity, compassion, and kindness toward one another.

Now is the time to take a break from the usual holiday rush and find a way to give back in a way that is meaningful to you or your community. Find an issue or organization you’re passionate about–whether that’s a food bank down the street, an environmental issue, or a national nonprofit working on a matter of justice–and find a way to support them with your time, your money, or your network.

The winter holidays, at their core, are about being together and remembering the sense of community that ties us together. Cold months, like those in my home state of New Jersey, remind us that we are only as strong as our most vulnerable, and that we can only face the deepest levels of adversity if we are unified.

To quote Maya Angelou, “I have found that among other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”

May we all count our many blessings, and extend those onto others. Not only now, but through 2022 and beyond. Wishing everyone a joyful, reflective, and safe holiday season–no matter how you celebrate.