Megan Sadler

If there’s one thing I hate, it’s seeing Halloween decorations before the fall leaves start falling. And I definitely hate it when I see Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving. That having been said – I have always been a silver lining kind of person. So while marketing takes its evil toll and gets me to buy a Christmas present in October, consider this even though its extremely early: as the holiday seasons approach, it’s a good time to start considering those in need in our community. Sure, sometimes it feels like these are the “worst of times.” But there are thousands in our area struggling simply to survive. For example, at least one local group estimates that CMS has mpre than 4,000 homeless students this year. So go ahead and start researching local groups, so you can get involved before the crunch of the holiday season starts. Planning ahead now will also make it easier to plan to add a line-item of giving – whether it’s a gift of your talents or a monetary gift – to your monthly budget. Planning now to help meet these needs will make it easier to do so within your budget (whether it’s your weekly schedule or your pocket book), and it might even help you feel the holiday cheer that much more.

So as you gear up for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Christmas or Festivus, consider committing now to donate your time, talent or funds to help some really worthy causes, including:

• A Better World – A “Non-profit organization that reaches out to children and their families in the Ashley Park Community and the surrounding area to offer after school care, classes and training which will assist them in many areas of their lives.”
• A Child’s Place – “A Child’s Place works to erase the impact of homelessness on children and their education.”
• Loaves and Fishes - Loaves & Fishes “provides a week's worth of nutritious groceries to individuals and families in a short-term crisis.”
• Urban Ministry Center - “The Charlotte Urban Ministry Center is an interfaith organization dedicated to serving our homeless neighbours and helping end homelessness.”
• United Family Services – The Vision of United Family Services “is that those families and individuals who are victims of violence or are touched by an emotional or financial crisis receive support and encouragement to create a better future.”

Also, be sure to go ahead and mark your calendar for Engage Charlotte’s After Hours event November 16, 2011 from 5:30pm to 7:30 p.m., when we'll try to do our part for the community by helping raise awareness for two local groups – Good Fellows and Good Friends – who have been helping Charlotte for a combined total of more than 100 years.