Giving back to those in need will give you a warm n’ fuzzy feeling

In just a few weeks time, many of us will gather with loved ones to
stuff our faces with turkey, gravy and the like, in honor of the yearly Thanksgiving Day feast.

And through the mouthfuls of juicy, white turkey breast and sweet,
tarty cranberry sauce, we tend to forget just how fortunate we really are.

We don’t want to sound like a broken record and we’re sure we’ve all
heard about the meaning of holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas,
but we would like to point out that you don’t have to go far to give a
helping hand not only to needy strangers, but also to fellow students
who may be close friends.

Barney’s Pantry, an Associated Student Government food and clothing
charity program located in the College Center, is one way students
can give back to their community and do something good in these increasingly
bleak economic times.

Other clubs and groups should also follow suit with Barney’s Pantry
and should band together to help bridge the gap between available community
resources and the needs of fi nancially constrained people. If they
were to do so, the weight on the shoulders of Barney’s Pantry, which is
already great with need still on the rise, we can lessen the load and give
more options to the unfortunate so they too can celebrate the holidays
properly clothed and fed.

Another point to consider is that as more people and groups band
together, you create more opportunities for people to donate, because
many times people are many willing but aren’t sure where to go to donate
or volunteer to help the community, which leads into the next topic.

If you are willing to extend a helping hand to the needy, there is a fourpoint
action plan that should be followed.

First, get organized. If you’re making your own group, choose how
and who to contribute to.

Second, if creating a group, make a plan of where to gather supplies
and how to distribute them. It’s one thing to create a charity program,
but another to raise the funds and resources to make it effective.

Third, make sure everything is in order with your group. Establish
regular meeting times and places to discuss the issues of charity work.

Lastly, inspire others to do the same, whether it is to simply donate or
create their own groups. Share your experiences and encourage others to
pitch in.

Again, if you’re looking to contribute to an already existing group, check
out the “Something Wonderful” program here on campus, and sponsor a
family and buy Christmas presents for families that don’t have the money
to do so themselves. As mentioned earlier, Barney’s Pantry is another
great program on campus where you can donate food and clothing.