Leading up to the holidays, a large emphasis is placed on giving back. Christmas has a way of putting everyone in a giving spirit, and in Troup County people give in droves.

That was shown throughout 2019.

Around Christmas, so many people give back to Toys for Tots, make a donation to the Salvation Army outside a retail store, or volunteer to cook a meal for families in need. 

Unfortunately, those needs don’t go away after Dec. 25. A family struggling for food on Christmas is likely to still be in need of help in January, and a child with a lack of presents for the holidays may be lacking other necessities as well. 

Our point is this — don’t forget to give the rest of the year as well.

Most people reading this have a roof over their heads and aren’t worried about where their next meal will come from. That’s something to be thankful for.

There are so many great organizations in this community that help out throughout the year with food needs and other issues that families that live near the poverty line face. We could fill this space with their names, but we’d surely leave some out. Many churches devote a lot of their energy to helping out people locally as well. 

It’s not just money that’s needed. Volunteering, as so many did to cook a meal on Christmas, is a free way to help out as well. 

We suggest finding a cause that’s important to you, and if you have the means to do so, give back periodically throughout the year. 

Christmas is a great time of year to give. No one wants to see someone go hungry around the holidays.

However, the holidays only come once a year, and so many people need help outside of December.