Helping out... now, and in the times to come. I'm proud of my kids at school.

The Toys for Tots program is a hugely successful one in our area. Kids who care, and community members who support the local efforts, have outdone themselves yet again. The area high schools have a friendly competition to see which one can gather the most toys to donate, and Lisbon --my kids-- have won the challenge for the second year in a row. This gives them the opportunity to send a few members of the student council to "Shop with a Cop" at Walmart; this way, they can fulfill even more needs while having a fun time cruising the aisles (and getting a pizza lunch) with our local police members. 

I'm proud of these kids and their efforts. Yes, it's a fun competition, but it goes deeper than that. Lisbon is a economically fragile community, with a very high rate of families who are struggling financially. There's not a lot of wiggle room in most people's budgets, to be sure. Yet these kids, some of whom may well have been recipients of the toys in the past, outdo themselves to make sure other kids get some joy out of the holiday season. It is often said that the ones who have the least are the most generous, and that seems to be true in practical experience. 

Our school also has an in-house food pantry, and we send home weekend bags and vacation bags-- lots of them-- to keep kids fed. Recently, at our quiz bowl tournament, I requested that visiting teams bring something for the food pantry, and we were able to donate quite a lot of necessary items. I was very appreciative of the donations, to be sure. 

I keep a box of healthy snacks in my closet at school, too-- and yesterday, five kids in one class hit that up. Yes, sometimes they are just looking for something to munch on, but most of them didn't have breakfast, for one reason or another. I don't question it; hungry kids don't work well. 

In the past, I've also brought in clothing that needed "rehoming," and without a doubt, it goes quickly. When Meg cleaned out her high school clothes-- fancy dresses to tee shirts-- it took less than three days for the entire pile to disappear. We have also had some success with the "free prom dress" rack; kids should be able to enjoy a special event, and not having a pretty dress should not be the factor that keeps them home. 

What I guess I'm trying to say is, if you have extra, please find a place to donate it. If you have extra time, please offer to help. Right now, even in the midst of so much economic growth in our country, there are people who are still trying to catch up. And the promised "roll-backs" to a failing formula of economics is looming with the incoming Administration. Higher prices due to tariffs and canceled or weakened social safety nets are on the horizon, and it's always the most vulnerable who suffer first and the most. 

It's Christmas. It's winter. And folks will need help well beyond the season. 

Have a good day,

C