Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Have you experienced heart palpitations each time you check out at the grocery store? I won’t even touch on the political ramifications of soaring prices.

Having said that, I did a little research on the little spot of heaven we call home. Census.gov tells me nearly 20,000 people live here. About 88% of us live at least a comfortable lifestyle, which basically means we do not worry about feeding our family or being evicted from our homes. 

Great news, right? However, when we look at the other side of the coin, more than 2,000 of our neighbors do not have that security. Some wonder what they will feed their babies tomorrow. Some seniors choose between nutrition and necessary medicine. Some live in places where we would feel guilty housing our pets. When I see someone standing by the road asking for money, my brain is skeptical. Is this a scam or a real need?

We are fortunate to have local agencies that carefully vet for need. Thermal Belt Ministry, Feed Thy Neighbor, and Pop-Up Pantry of Saluda help hundreds of families that especially struggle during this season. They each say they struggle to keep enough food on the shelves to meet needs. Local grocery stores offer you an easy way to donate with a $6 food box….something you won’t even notice on your next credit card. 

Some are giving a simple Thanksgiving and Christmas meal and helping with gifts for children. I appreciate some nationwide organizations that ask for help via mail, TV and the Internet. But I feel strongly that charity, the greatest of gifts, begins at home with our neighbors. Whether you spend some time with the lonely neighbor on your street or make donations, large or small, remember the true spirit of the upcoming holidays. 

 

Cheryl Taylor

Columbus