The True Spirit of the Holidays

With the hustle and hassles of the holiday season, it's easy to forget that this time of year has been set aside for us to count our blessings – family, friends, good health. Political division and ugliness over the past year have placed a cloud over the heads of many that continues to cast a shadow. Making matters worse, giving thanks seems to get lost as we segue from turkey day to Black Friday and the month-long buying frenzy leading up to Christmas.

Despite all the reasons we may struggle to feel thankful this holiday season, most of us have things pretty good. We enjoy a comfortable, stable home and food on the table. We have loved ones, either blood relations or families of our own making, who celebrate our triumphs and support us through life's challenges. But many of the vulnerable people served by Volunteers of America don't share even these most basic of blessings.

For many, the traditions of this season include helping the less fortunate, and support from those like you makes a critical difference in the lives of our clients. It helps us fill gaps in existing funding to create new services in response to emerging needs. Donations not only allow organizations like Volunteers of America to serve more people, but also to address the quality as well as the quantity of services. It is the factor that turns public housing into family homes, and makes the difference between simply keeping people alive and giving them a life.

As Christmas approaches, we at Volunteers of America hope everyone will remember the true spirit of Christmas and focus on helping those in need. For more information on ways you can support Volunteers of America, please visit www.voa.org/Donate.

Thank you,

Mike King
President/CEO