Blessings, Giving, and the Quiet Strength of Community

As Thanksgiving slips behind us and Christmas begins to glow on the horizon, I’ve been doing what many of us do this time of year—thinking about blessings. The ones we receive, the ones we give, and the ones that arrive quietly, right when we need them most.

A family friend is ill, and a fund was created to help them pursue the treatment they desperately need. It’s already doing well—and with a few fundraisers and a little more encouragement, I’m confident the goal will be met. Watching that unfold warms my heart and sparks deeper reflection about giving, charity, and what it truly means to be held up by others.

I’ve always been a hard worker. I believe in earning my way, in showing up, in doing what needs to be done—even when it isn’t easy. Only a handful of times in my life have I asked for help, and even then it felt unfamiliar. But I’m fortunate: healthy enough, capable enough, persistent (read stubborn) enough to keep going. And that is a blessing I don’t take for granted.

But life doesn’t always give everyone that option.

Sometimes illness hits.
Sometimes the ground shifts too fast to keep balance.
Sometimes circumstances become bigger than one person can manage.

So then we ask… who helps?

If you’re fortunate, you have a community—a circle of friends and family who step in before you even know what you need. They show up with meals, money, encouragement, rides, prayers, phone calls, and shoulders to lean on. They advocate for you when you’re too tired to advocate for yourself. They don’t let you fall alone.

And when you have that?
You will be okay, even if life changes.
You will survive, because you won’t be carrying everything by yourself.

When There Isn’t a Circle to Lean On

But what about those who don't have that network?
What happens to the people who fall through the cracks—those without family nearby, without a large friend group, without someone who knows how to organize help on their behalf?

Often, they turn to strangers.

Sometimes it’s a community organization.
Sometimes it’s a local charity.
Sometimes it’s the kindness of absolute strangers in a Facebook group, or a chance encounter with someone who becomes an angel, if only for a moment.

We don’t often think about these people until we hear a story—until a fundraiser link passes by, or a neighbor quietly mentions someone in need, or a small local charity puts out a call for winter coats or food. But they exist in every town, every neighborhood, every school.

And during the holidays, the weight they carry can feel even heavier.

If You’re in a Place to Give This Season

If you are fortunate enough to be healthy, secure, and stable this holiday season—and you are looking for a way to do a little good—please consider donating to a worthy program in your area. Sometimes even a small contribution makes a big difference for someone who has nowhere else to turn. There are so many worthy organizations I can't possibly begin to list them all. 

For those in the Kettering, Ohio area, here are a few organizations I personally recommend:

🎒 The Kettering Backpack Program

Provides weekend food bags to local students who might otherwise go hungry.
Website: https://www.ketteringbackpack.org

🎅 Operation Motorcycle Santa

A local volunteer group supporting families and children during the holidays.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571286838943

🧤 VFW on Wilmington Pike (Kettering)

Collecting hats, gloves, scarves, and socks for those in need.
Donation deadline: December 23, 2025

A Final Thought

Giving isn’t always about money.
Sometimes it’s time, kindness, a share, a comment, a warm coat, or simply checking on a neighbor.

And sometimes it’s remembering that the greatest gifts we give aren’t wrapped at all—
they’re the moments when we quietly show up for someone who needs it.