Giving more reasons to be thankful
Tomorrow is the quintessentially American pairing of dinner with family and friends to express thanks for all that we have, immediately followed by the pre-dawn Friday shopping rush to go out and get more.
But don't let all the turkey-making and coupon-clipping drown out your inner voice the one calling on you to make a special point at this time of year to share what bounty you have and help people in need, both here in the suburbs and around the world.
The need is greater than ever.
Donations to large national charities dropped 11 percent last year, and most don't expect to do much better by the end of this year, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reports.
Local nonprofits are particularly squeezed. Many well-regarded suburban charities are caught with far more people needing their services and far fewer dollars coming in from state and local government. They'll make the most of your donation or offer of help.
While the economic picture might look a little brighter than a year ago, remember that those most hurt by the recession are the very last to climb out of it. Something as simple as an anonymous grocery gift card in a mailbox can transform the Thanksgiving celebration of a family in your neighborhood that's struggling with unemployment or other financial problems.
Take a lesson from the many suburban residents who are moved to action by scenes of intense suffering in Haiti, first stricken by a devastating earthquake and now by cholera. Giving to medical relief funds translates directly into saving lives. Other efforts aim to help orphans, build housing, create safe drinking water systems, end hunger.
Many other parts of the world are similarly in need.
In the words of Haiti volunteer John Peterson of Elburn: “When somebody's hurt, you don't run away from them. You run to them.”
It only takes a few minutes to make a donation in most cases you can do it online or commit to lending a hand. It's something you can even fit into today's busy holiday prelude.
And there's a bonus: When you give to others, there's something in it for you. Health researchers have found that merely wanting to donate money to a charity lights up a part of the brain linked to good feelings. Think about how actually following through with a donation will add another layer of satisfaction and joy to your own holiday celebration.
If you remember to put a few bills for those red kettles, you might even be able to make that glow last all the way through your Friday shopping spree.
Happy Thanksgiving.