Traditionally, Christmas is a time when many people think about giving to charity. That’s a good thing, because charities rely on those seasonally-inspired acts of generosity to keep them going through the rest of the year.
You can bet that groups from international aid agencies to local non-profits helping the homeless will still be making use of that Christmas cash to spread comfort and joy when the giver is lying on a beach in July.
But recent reports on charitable giving suggest that Canadians are increasingly feeling the economic pinch. Both the percentage of those giving and the amounts they give are down from previous years.
Those in B.C. have been hit especially hard – not surprising considering our ballooning costs of living.
Of course there are many ways to give without handing over actual cash.
Volunteering time and effort towards a worthy cause can be equally important. Most organizations welcome helping hands, and not just at Christmas.
Hank Brennan, the North Van recycler with a big heart, whose story we recently featured, is someone who epitomizes that spirit. Brennan is as near to an elf as most of us will encounter – using elbow grease to turn 25,000 recyclables a month into gift cards to help those in need.
He also gives something equally valuable: his attention and his presence. Those are qualities in short supply in our frantic lives sometimes but gifts available for all of us to give, whether to those in need in our communities or to our own nearest and dearest.
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