Like most people, we think the preholiday lead-up begins ridiculously early these days. It seems like the Halloween candy is still on the shelves when the Christmas wrapping paper and Advent calendars suddenly appear. By the middle of November, we'll be hearing carols piped in over the sound system in shopping stores and noticing egg nog in the dairy case.
Perhaps, when you saw the headline on this page, you rolled your eyes just a little and thought "gosh, already?"
If we were talking about anything other than the incredible array of non-profit groups that operate in the Royal City to help those most in need, we'd agree.
The truth is that these groups need all the time and help they can get. We could make cute analogies about busy elves trying to complete their to-do lists, but the reality is a bit more challenging than that: there are more people who need help than ever before and fewer donation dollars going around than in the past.
Each year, The Record has published The Guide to Giving: a listing of local non-profit groups that need your extra time or donations this season. (See page 9 for more details.)
We know that there is plenty of demand for donation dollars and volunteer hours, and hundreds of causes that are important to different people.
With so many groups working for environmental issues, disease research, international relief and more, it may seem easy to overlook the small organizations right here at home that do so much good for local residents.
Don't underestimate the power of small good deeds - the sense of caring, community, possibility and, ultimately, joy that comes from helping neighbours can be transformative. It's impossible to say how far and wide the positive "ripple impact" extends, but we do know this: when you create hope in another person, only good can follow.
