Just as the cold comes, we enter a season of celebration and
festivities. In Camden, as in neighborhoods throughout America, we connect with
family and friends. We share traditions and customs. We cook and eat comfort
food together, create and cherish memories, listen to choirs, spread cheer,
celebrate with services, and share moments of closeness. Above all, this
special season is a time for goodwill, generosity and giving. It is a time to
care for each other and for others.
But it is a challenging
time. Commercialism and consumerism often deplete celebration and connection,
and they surely disappoint. We chase the perfect holiday, but the fact is,
there’s never enough money, never enough energy, there are never enough hours
in the day to fulfill our own wants and needs, let alone be generous with
others.
This begs the question:
What can one person, living in Camden, do to make a difference for others this
year? Here are some things you can do right here, right now. You may be
surprised at how your own spirits soar and your heart warms as you simply give
or do routine things with compassion.
For starters, be a good
neighbor. Is there someone nearby who needs a walk shoveled? Noticing and then
providing a service costs nothing, but is a welcome kindness for those who
can’t get out, or who are overwhelmed with child care and shuttling between
part-time jobs to make ends meet.
Share a meal; prepare
and deliver an additional plate or make up a grocery basket and surprise
someone in need. Walk a dog for a neighbor who has to work late, or can’t get
around easily. Carry jumper cables in your car. On foot? Help someone cross the
street, or across a snow bank. Help with a bag of groceries, hold a door open,
or give up your place in line at the bus stop or checkout. Donate time or items
to a food or clothing shelf. Carry
extra scarves or mittens with you or in your car, and give them to someone who
is without. Pick up litter, especially paper that someone can easily slip on
with the ice and snow. Notice and return stray pets to their owners. Make sure
yours has a microchip, is exercised, licensed, socialized, trained and fed
properly.
Volunteer, even for
just an hour. Demand for volunteers goes up during the holidays, which can be
especially busy and many regular volunteers are off. Give your time to kids,
the underprivileged, the homeless, the vulnerable. Look into opportunities at a
local church, school or library. How about the Food Shelf at Gethsemane Lutheran on 47th and Colfax or Clothes Closet
at United Methodist on Fremont and 44th. Beyond that, there’s the Salvation
Army, Mary’s Place, the Animal Humane Society,
Second Harvest Heartland, Feed My Starving Children, or Minnesota
Workforce Center. Go online to Volunteermatch.org or CreatetheGood.org and
align your interests with a need.
Donate to Toys for
Tots. Get a heated birdfeeder for the backyard, or make yours wildlife friendly
for the winter. Make an extra contribution to Twin Cities Public Television to
keep quality, citizen-building programming available to all. Be helpful and
patient with those who do not speak English fluently. Visit a nursing home with
a deck of cards, board games or a group of carolers. Send care packages or
cards to military stationed overseas. Write an editorial, speaking up for those
who can’t speak for themselves, or advocating your ideas for how to improve
lives in Camden and beyond.
Use your consumer
buying power for good. Become informed about manufacturers, retailers,
companies and corporations that mistreat or underpay workers, pollute, deplete
resources, ship jobs overseas, avoid paying U.S. taxes, produce harmful
chemicals in toys, food or medicine, and test on animals. Choose to precycle,
purchasing items with minimal packaging which increases costs and promotes
waste. Purchase items such as preowned cars, clothing, etc., cutting down on
manufacturing processes and long distance shipping harmful to the environment.
Support local crafters, artists, businesses and farmers. Try a few new
plant-based recipes and limit meat to two servings per week. You’ll save money,
keep your weight down, extend your life, and show compassion for farm animals
that are among the most abused. Eating more plant-based meals; you’ll have a
profound impact on reducing climate change.
Make it your business
to know the issues as they relate to Camden and beyond, and always vote. Small
or large— generous, kind, and compassionate actions make all the difference for
everyone.
Feeling a warm glow in
your heart yet? We’d love to hear your ideas for making a difference throughout
this season and into the new year. Wishing you and yours a joyful holiday from
all of us at Camden News.