Raise your spirits by raising someone else’s.

A lot of people will open those wallets today and give to many charities. Helping people and providing hope. But I heard some chatter that less people than previous years because of the economy.

I worked on helping this morning and I’ll probably do more this afternoon. I used to feel inferior if I couldn’t make a substantial donation. Now I just feel good about what I can give.

Each little bit helps, and I always feel I should be doing more. I think my parents are still talking to me. I realized that the few bucks I might spend here and there over the year would be better in the hands of the Red Cross or Maryland Food Bank.

One less dinner out or tank of gas could be a donation to the V Foundation or American Cancer Society. A less extravagant trip might help The Chesapeake Bay Foundation. And so on.

I think I’ll be in a better position to do more financially next year (fingers crossed) and expand to some new organizations. The personal time I hope to invest in doing some type of volunteer work is high on my wish list for 2025.

Then again, the family is expanding so time may be tight again.

The trouble with donating is the hounding you are bombarded with after. The mail, the email, the calls, the unsubscribing.

I wonder if the Salvation Army Red Pot collections outside stores are down because, so few people carry cash now?

Sorry to ramble on. Just wanted to thank those who give not just today but throughout the year to so many causes. It’s something that has a common cause still in this country.