The message of Christmas

Published 5:17 pm Monday, November 25, 2013

Although it should be happening throughout the year, it’s the time of year when the fortunate among us make a special effort to help the less fortunate among us.

The traditional signal that the giving season has arrived is the presence of The Salvation Army’s red kettles throughout the community, not to mention the Toys for Tots posters going up in storefronts. Those programs deserve our support.

There are plenty of organizations and agencies seeking help from the public when it comes to making Christmas merrier for people who likely would not have a happy holiday without others who share their blessings. There’s a plethora of programs and projects in the area that need help when it comes to making sure those blessings are shared. Those programs and projects, for the most part, just are not as recognizable as The Salvation Army or Toys for Tots.
For instance, there is Eagle’s Wings. This ministry provides food to people whom, for whatever reason, have problems putting food on their tables. These are people who aren’t worried about putting presents under the Christmas tree; they are more concerned with putting food in their children’s stomachs than with stuffing things in their children’s Christmas stockings.
Eagle’s Wings is more than just about feeding people. Its mission, according to the organization’s website is to “become aware of and meet family and personal needs (physical, emotional and spiritual) of residents of Beaufort County; to meet these needs through the joint efforts of caring Christian members with referrals to other service agencies and to give aid in such a way that encourages self-respect, dignity, self-reliance and a desire to help others.”
Eagle’s Wings provides a helping hand in other matters, too.
Feeding the hungry and putting smiles on the faces of children by providing them with gifts at this time of the year — few other things, if any, exhibit the Christmas spirit as those two acts of kindness. Let’s help The Salvation Army, Toys for Tots and Eagle’s Wings spread the message of Christmas.