'Tis the Season for Giving

Allison Robinson gives ways to serve the underprivileged communities of Grants Pass during the holiday season in her informative article.

'Tis the Season for Giving

By Allison Robinson

The Holidays can be a difficult time for many people. In order to make this time of year easier for those individuals that are not as fortunate as others, volunteer opportunities should be taken advantage of and donations should be given. In our own community, there are many options to volunteer and donate.

One scarce item that drastically affects people is food. Almost all of the assistance centers are asking for donations of food in order to serve those in need. If you have extra food to donate, organizations around Grants Pass and Medford could use it. A few places to consider donating to include: ROC Food Pantry, St. Vincent De Paul, and Grants Pass Gospel Rescue Mission.

Clothes are another great donation, especially during the holidays. When donating clothing, make sure that all items are lightly used, clean, and not damaged in any way. Places such as the Women’s Crisis Support Team, Our Foster Kids, St. Vincent Paul, and Grants Pass Gospel Mission are constantly in need of clothing. Please make sure that all undergarments such as underwear, bras, and socks are unused. People of all sizes and ages will use them, so all donations are appreciated.

In Grants Pass stores, the Our Foster Kids program has put up “Angel Trees,” or Christmas trees hung with “angel tags,” where the names, ages, and wish lists of foster children are written. This incredible organization asks for community members to pick a tag off of the tree, purchase a toy or gift that is on the wishlist, and return the gift and tag to the area of the tree.

Any gift is appreciated. While these are just a few ideas of ways to serve those organizations so that they can serve underprivileged individuals, do not allow this to limit you! The Grants Pass and Medford area could use so many more hands to help the community. Look for the simple things. Serve soup at a local soup kitchen. Wrap presents for kids in foster care. Do your small part. When we all work together, we can move mountains.

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