Caring For Each Other This Holiday Season

Op-Ed

By: Senator Jay Rockefeller

More than any time in recent history, families are facing serious economic hardships - and the struggles are often felt the most during the holiday season. Families are worried about how to pay their bills and heat their homes, let alone how they'll put a holiday dinner on the table or gifts under the Christmas tree.

Christmas is a time when we strive to listen to the better angels of our nature and try to make real the spirit of the season by offering more than just goodwill to our fellow men and women.

Generosity has never been more important than it is now. That's why I wanted to take a moment to say how grateful I am for the civic organizations that collect food and clothes; for the church groups that make sure people can get a hot meal; for our first responders and military men and women who make children's Christmas dreams come true with new toys; and, for our young people whose drive and determination to do something to help their communities inspires all of us.

In addition to all of the groups that give, I know that businesses and offices across the state do as well. For example, staff in my four state offices, which are located in Charleston, Beckley, Fairmont and Martinsburg, come together to give to charities in some way every year.

This year, to highlight the growing needs of families and charities across West Virginia, they challenged each other to help meet the demands facing the Salvation Army by donating time, food and children's clothing.

This was just one small way to try and give back to these struggling communities and the charities that are doing their best - even in the face of decreased donations - to meet their increasing needs.

With Christmas just around the corner, it's never too late to lend a hand in even the smallest ways - volunteering time at a veterans' center or nursing home, helping out a needy neighbor, or making donations to local charities.

For a complete list of charitable organizations across our state, you can go online to the West Virginia Secretary of State's office - www.wvsos.com - or call 304-558-8000.

But relying on the kindness of others isn't the only way we'll get through these seriously challenging times. That's why I've fought to increase federal funding for heating assistance programs so more West Virginians can keep the lights on and stay warm this winter. To help stock refrigerators and cabinets, I also was proud to support increases in food stamp funding and to support an effort to take surplus crops and donate them to food banks.

As we continue working in Washington on ways to help families and businesses during this economic crisis, I want you to know that Sharon and I are so incredibly grateful to all who are spread out across West Virginia reaching out to those in need - not only this holiday season, but all year round. Your service and contributions bring hope to those who need it the most during these trying times.

West Virginia has always been a place where people help each other out, especially when so many are being forced to make difficult sacrifices. Neighbor-helping-neighbor is a way of life here - and the real measure of our Mountaineer Spirit.

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