Christmas Spirit

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant & Crystal, Food Pantry Client

I love the holidays. Wrapping paper, snow, ribbons, elves, reindeer, carolers, cookies. You name it, I love it. But I’ve come to realize as I’ve been working on our Christmas Gift Program that Christmas can be a really hard time for a lot of people, financially and emotionally. Money gets really tight and the worries increase along with the gas bills at this time of year. And for some of our clients, getting into the Christmas spirit is hindered by other sorrows.

Crystal is a client of our Food Pantry and she participated in the Christmas Gift Program this year. She chatted with us briefly when she came in to pick up her gifts and I was touched by her words.

I’m having a hard time being excited about Christmas this year. This will be the first Christmas without my father who died earlier this year. I miss him and the holidays make me think about him. And about the father of my daughter. He was shot and killed on Christmas Day three years ago.

I want to enjoy Christmas for my kids’ sakes but it’s really hard. I am so grateful for the Christmas presents that you collected for them. Seeing the wrapped packages is the first thing about Christmas this year that has made me smile.

So as we bask in our celebrations over the next days and weeks, let’s take a moment to remember those for whom this time of year is a struggle, and to hold them in our prayers.