Many from my generation remember hearing parents or grandparents talk about living through the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Times were so difficult that many did not know where their next meal was coming from. My mother used to tell us about Christmas during the depression. She remembered being excited about getting an orange and a paper doll for Christmas. That was all they had, and they were still grateful. It may not seem possible but many children today still have similar Christmases.
My wife has worked with special needs children in two school systems. She comes home with stories about how difficult life is for these young people. For many of them, the hot lunch they receive at school may be the only meal they have that day. Others struggle to focus on their school work as they are dealing with extremely difficult challenges in their homes. These include divorce, abuse, drug use, neglect, and many other painful situations. It is no wonder that many of these young people have difficulty concentrating.
Some of the saddest stories my wife has shared with me deal with students going home for the holidays. Believe it or not, some children from struggling homes do not look forward to the holidays. They see school as a haven of support and kindness. Home for these young people is often seen as a place of conflict and pain. While most of their classmates excitedly await the coming of Christmas vacation, these young people await its coming with a growing feeling of dread. Though our country is not in a depression like the 1930s, many families are.
It is very fortunate for the underprivileged among us that this community has so many who are active in helping these children find support and help. Organizations such Simon House, the Salvation Army, Youth for Christ, the Center for Survivors, the Food Pantry, the YMCA, Big Pals/Little Pals, Teammates, our churches and others have a focus on helping young people overcome the difficulties of their disadvantaged upbringings. Columbus is extremely fortunate to have such people working to make life better for others.
Though this community is blessed with many selfless volunteers and with strong helping organizations, more still needs to be done. There are still many gaps to fill in the lives of impoverished families. And the number of these families is growing every year. One indicator of this is about 42 percent of Columbus Public Schools children qualify for free and reduced lunches. This compares to 26 percent ten years ago and 34 percent for the state as a whole.
As the holiday season is upon us, it is a time to be thankful for the many blessings we have. It is also a time to be thankful for the service so many of our fellow citizens are giving to the suffering in our midst. Then it is an excellent opportunity for a little self-examination and preparation of our new year’s resolutions. Perhaps these resolutions could include volunteering more to help the suffering in our midst. They might also include giving more financially to organizations, such as United Way, who are helping to fill the holes that are left in children’s lives by poverty, neglect, and substance abuse.
Merry Christmas to all of you. Thank you for all you are doing to make this community strong through helping others. Their lives are enriched through the kindness and support so many of you give.
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