By Barbara Morris
We should remember children especially. That is, indeed, good advice, but the spirit that opens our ears and hearts now should last through the entire year. We should all ask ourselves, How have I helped? What have I given of myself?
It would be wonderful if each of us could be rich enough to donate to every worthy cause. In reality, we must determine our priorities.
Most of the time, however, we can try to muster a smile, a pleasant word, a friendly gesture, Those things cost nothing, but may make a very big difference in someone else's life.
Most people are terrific, but the few who are uncaring and disrespectful make things uncomfortable for everyone. All we can hope is that some day they will want to change.
Hopefully, we will encourage them to do that. Address wrongs that are being done. Do it as respectfully as possible and, especially in the case or children, as consistently as possible.
If an explanation for the correction is needed, give it. Commend improvement, Do not, of course, confront anyone involved in criminal activity but please do contact the police.
All too often misguided people say “I don't want to get involved,” and neglect that all important call. Sometimes they “don't like getting someone in trouble.” If you are tempted to feel that way, don't! Criminals get themselves into trouble. If they are not stopped, they will probably do something worse and cause harm to others along the way.
Those of us fortunate enough to be living and working in this country should be grateful for that too and should be respectful of it. Any time of the day, we should be able to walk along our streets safely and see the entire area clean. Some here disrespect us by dirtying our communities.
The other day, one young woman, walking through the aisles of one or our supermarkets with a youngster hanging on the side of the shopping cart, hit the edge of a display. The entire thing fell, scattering boxes over a wide area. She laughed, said to him, “Look at the mess!” and went about her business. Not a very good message to the child.
The good news is that a lot of people do take part in doing things right. The Cornucopia Society's Food Pantry Fund-raiser, after a slow start, did rather well. More will follow soon, and we hope for your support so that better service can be offered.
A building without heat, without water (except the kind that comes through the holes in the roof on rainy or snowy days), and sometimes, without lights, needs much to be desired.
The Rosedale Lions Club, with its latest fund raiser/auction to try to help purchase another Seeing Eye dog, at the Bella Vita Restaurant Dec. 1, did very well, too. Some of the folks who attended did most of their Christmas shopping there – it was certainly for a worthy cause.
Ridgewood Savings Bank, Merrick and Francis Louis Boulevard, gave their customers an opportunity to donate toys for youngsters with a Giving Tree. Gift tags requested that a donor pick a request from a specific child, buy and wrap the gift, attach the tag and leave the package at the bank to be picked up.
A national organization called Project Linus, continues to supply hand- made blankets to children with AIDS, cancer, sickle-cell anemia or chronic asthma. If you or someone you know might want to make some youngster a special “get well” security blanket, please contact Yvette Perez at 917-773-3473 or Louise Walton at 718-341-1345.
Happy holidays to you and yours.
