By Christian Yamulla / Full360 reporter
With the holidays approaching, it is easy to get lost in your own wants and needs. However, over at Peddler’s Village, I was fortunate enough to participate in this year’s annual “Holiday Hustle.” This event was held in commemoration towards the countless families that have lost loved ones, or cannot afford the luxury of celebrating Christmas the same as you and me this year.
Hosted by Scoogie Events, the organization’s dedication to honoring their founder’s lost brother and the joy he provided inspired volunteers in attendance.
Each individual I met, whether volunteering for Scoogie Events or other local organizations such as The Opportunity Council, welcomed me immediately and made me feel like family. These interactions not only created a sense of belonging with the volunteers involved, but also a shared understanding of how different each holiday season can be for the families you come across each day.
According to a recent CBS News report, nearly two-thirds of American families struggle to put together a holiday season. Whether this is shown by parent’s, relatives, siblings, and so on, there is a drastic portion of our community that is left hoping it all comes together in some sort of “Christmas Miracle” each year. However, organizations such as the Opportunity Council bring immense value by providing contributors with the privileges that we often take for granted. This being the chance to “Give a Christmas.”
This annual fundraiser collects anything along the lines of clothing, food, blankets, money, and more in order to give our lovely community the resources necessary to create the holiday they deserve. And it is within my own opinion, that this year’s holiday drive is more important than any other upon the conclusion to the chaotic autumn we have had within the school board and politics that for some reason now ensue.
And as the voting and pandering now come to an end, it is time that we as a community divert our attention towards the issues that truly matter. Supporting others’ quality of life, clothing, food, and so on, are all above and beyond what makes our town a community. This goes beyond any social ladder focus points, or proof that the Common Core system was established because we can’t behave. But to show that this local community takes pride in our neighbors’ well-being, and genuine care towards their quality of life.
With that being said, I implore to all who read this, that you take a moment to swallow your pride and not only be thankful for what you have, but also for the position that you are in. Being able to support not only your own family, but also your neighbors this holiday season, is what makes Doylestown unique beyond similar towns. With that being said, please volunteer, donate, and appreciate the gifts we too often ignore this Christmas season.
