November 14, 2008

District 8 Report

Give thanks on Thanksgiving by helping a friend in need

By Vice Mayor Dave Cortese
Special to the Times

With the brisk air blowing and the leaves turning colors, it is clear that autumn is finally on us, and with that comes the beginning of the holiday season. It is a joyous time, one filled with laughter and delight and the creation of many fond memories.

I applaud those of you who have taken it upon yourself to spread the holiday cheer through donations to local charities and non-profits. Unfortunately for many of us, the economy has brought us financial worry and perhaps has tightened the charity budget. So I wanted to give you some ideas to still help out this year without putting a further strain on your wallet.

As I shared with you last year, there are many local and regional charities that work year round to provide food, personal products, and shelter to those in need; in some cases their busiest season is the holiday season when the weather turns cold. I am sure you have heard of these organizations, including Second Harvest Food Bank, City Team Ministries, and Loaves and Fishes.

If you are looking for more of a local impact, the Evergreen Valley United Methodist Church will be holding a Turkey Truck Run from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23 to collect donations of turkeys that they will distribute to local families in need.

While all of these charities are in need of donations, there are other important ways to help out. Donating your time or expertise can be just as valuable as money, through simple acts such as helping food drives sort through their food donations or helping a local meal program prepare and serve the fresh meals.

If you are a social person and love to chat, perhaps you could visit a local retirement home and spend some time socializing with a resident that does not receive many visitors. Or perhaps you and your friends love to sing karaoke. What better way to practice your skills than to visit a senior citizens’ center and sing Christmas carols. Or if you love to knit, you can give the gift of warmth through a scarf or hat. For someone in need, even the littlest gestures can mean the world.

One local church, St. Francis of Assisi, is collaborating with Catholic Charities to provide the Day Break Respite and Caregiver Supporter. For just a few hours a day whenever you have a chance, not only can you give an older adult the gift of companionship, but you can also give a much needed break to a caregiver. Almost any interest or hobby that you may have can be shared as a rewarding activity for the elderly.

As you can see, it does not take a lot of money or time to make a difference in someone’s life. We all know from personal experience that giving of oneself is often more rewarding for the donor than the recipient. Seeing the look of gratitude on the face of a mother receiving a warm coat for her child or the look of contentment on the diner’s face after he finishes the hot meal you just served can make even the worst holiday blues vanish into thin air.

And let us not forget that this gift is something that we can do year round. As we give thanks this holiday season for everything that we have, perhaps we can plan a gift that keeps on giving. It could be visiting that retirement home for a few hours a week or helping to rehabilitate a home with Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley so that a family in need can have a safe roof over their head for years to come or it could even be making a difference in a young child’s life by becoming a mentor with the Boys and Girls Club of Silicon Valley or coaching a team with the San Jose Police Activities League.

During this holiday season, we need to band together in the spirit of what President-Elect Barack Obama spoke of in his presidential acceptance speech, “So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other.” Even though these are tough economic times, there is a lot that we can look to do to help out our fellow human being, to make a difference in someone’s life.

For information on volunteering with any of the above-mentioned organizations, of if you have any questions on any matter, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone 408-535-4908 or email dave.cortese@sanjoseca.gov.