To Help Those Less Fortunate

It's a cultural phenomenon that empathy creeps into the corners of people's lives around Christmas more so than at other times of the year. (If I were more cynical, I might say that beggars can't be choosers, or something). But you might not know what ways you can help out, and tossing $2.06 into someone's hat may not be the best way to really help or change someone's situation. Well, I recently stumbled across this great document online which lists ways people can help out. Get Involved Vancouver created the document 25 Ways to Christmas "in order to encourage practical personal involvement in meeting the social needs which are a part of the Vancouver community."

The document lists charitable organizations to volunteer for and the kinds of donations they are hoping to find. People are looking for everything from pots and pans to diapers to art supplies to food stuffs.

Sorry that I wasn't able to post this a month ago but I do hope those of us who are lucky enough to be able to share can extend our holiday cheer into 2006, since the need for help or supplies doesn't stop on Boxing Day. Cheers.

The image is taken from the Union Gospel Mission.