It truly is better to give than to receive at Christmas.
This adage doesn’t just apply to Christmas gifts exchanged through an office secret Santa draw, or to gifts wrapped under the tree on Christmas morning.
It is also important to remember to support others at Christmas time, so they can have a Merry Christmas.
Estevan has a great tradition of generosity at Christmas. The Estevan Salvation Army has received more than $100,000 in donations each of the last two years, and has set that figure as its goal this year, too.
Money donated to the Salvation Army will not only be used to support its initiatives at Christmas time, it will help the ministry with its efforts throughout the year.
People are also needed to volunteer for a couple hours by ringing bells for the kettle campaign, at several locations in the community.
And, of course, the Salvation Army operates the food bank. This is the time of year in which the food bank is often front of mind for many of us. A lot of schools and businesses will have food drives, or will accept a donation for the food bank at their Christmas concerts and parties.
And there will be events like the CP Rail Holiday Train that will support the food bank.
The Community Hamper Association is also a valuable resource for the community. For many years, it has been providing Christmas meals for those in need in the Estevan area. This year they’re in particular need, as a couple of partners have dropped out.
The hamper association is also in need of volunteers this year.
Also operated by the association is the Angel Tree program, which ensures that hamper recipients with children will be able to provide a toy to their children on Christmas day.
We’ve seen the generosity of the community already through the Operation Christmas Child campaign, in which shoeboxes will be sent around the world through Samaritans Purse; and through the Teddy Bear Toss for the Salvation Army, in which people who attended the Power Dodge Estevan Bruins game on Saturday night tossed a teddy bear on the ice following the first Bruins goal.
There will also be events leading up to Christmas that will demonstrate the generosity of the community.
The St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation’s Festival of Trees is this weekend. It’s a fun three days, with activities for people of all ages. But it’s also an important fundraiser for the foundation, which purchases much-needed medical equipment at the hospital.
If you want to support four-legged friends, the Estevan Humane Society’s Whiskers and Wine Gala is Nov. 24. It’s an inaugural event that will help out local pets.
So there are lots of ways to be generous this Christmas. Hopefully people will give of their time and their money to the best of their ability.
