What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store?
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?
During 2020, we all found out just how remote we could actually be. People worked digitally, kids learned virtually, just about everyone learned some obscure new skill from YouTube (sourdough bread, anyone?). We ordered food from DoorDash and everything else we needed from Amazon. We went days with our only interactions being with a mouse, keyboard, or touch screen.
And we learned pretty quickly that what we really wanted was human interaction. The importance of being face-to-face with others became paramount once it was taken away, and we’re just starting to understand the ramifications of being denied something we were designed to have.
One happy outcome from 2020 may be that the desire to be around others has also translated into an unprecedented number of volunteers hoping to serve. Serving makes your heart feel good, and studies have also shown reduced depression, lower blood pressure and longer lives for those who actively serve others.
Want to serve, but don’t know where to start? The North Gwinnett Co-Op is a one-stop shop for helping during the holidays. The Co-Op serves those in need all year round, and creates a host of serving opportunities during the holidays. You can help create one of 1,200 holiday meal boxes given to families during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. The perfect group activity, boxes include everything needed for a holiday meal. Don’t want to face the crowds at the grocery store? Make a simple $50 donation to cover the cost of the meal box!
If you need to hit the stores and do a little wrapping to really get in the holiday mood, the Co-Op also offers the opportunity to sponsor a child or senior citizen for Christmas. Children’s gifts include coats, pajamas, clothes for school and church, shoes and inexpensive toys. Senior gifts include slippers, large print books, bath towels, coffee, crossword puzzle books and more.
Have a heart for serving, but your true love is good, old fashioned, all-American competition? The Suwanee and Duluth police departments are competing to see who can collect the most canned food to donate to the North Gwinnett and Duluth Co-Ops. Donations can be dropped off at the respective police departments through November 12, and beginning December 1, the same departments will be collecting toys for Christmas.
And what happened then?
Well in Whoville they say
That the Grinch’s small heart
Grew three sizes that day.
Excerpts from Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas