‘Tis the season to be giving.

For many families, this is a very special time of year. As we rest in the glow, satisfied in our efforts during the year to earn a living, we enjoy our time with family and friends. For some of us, this is also a time of religious celebration, and as is customary with those who observe Christmas, there is gift-giving amongst family.

But these are also tough times for some. Economic conditions have caused many people to suffer. We live in a country of such contrasts, between those who have, and those who have not.
Yet, in the spirit of the season, we appeal to the public to think of the less fortunate and give a little from their hearts.

There are several charities in and around the Sandton area we can recommend.

The Hospice Wits Shop that is corner 11th Street and Elizabeth. They do the hardest work of all: trying to ease the suffering of those who are soon to pass on. It is not an easy job to do and is heart-breaking. In order to afford their facilities, the necessary pain medication and nursing staff, they have several shops throughout Johannesburg, including the one mentioned above.

You can either donate old clothes to the store or buy some – perhaps even as a gift – in order to facilitate their work.

Then there’s Change Our World for Good. You can visit their store at 19 5th Street. They have a rather novel concept. You purchase an ARK, a container shaped like the legendary ark of old, which you take home with you and fill with spare coins and bank notes over time. Once the ark is full, you donate it to a person in need or give it to a charity of your choice. It puts a new spin on the expression (from the movie of the same name), “hope floats”.

Then there is Thy Will Children’s Mission, which is an orphanage in 109 Wierda Rd. There is nothing more saddening that the thought of children without parents over the festive season. If you’re able to donate to the orphanage, do so. And it doesn’t have to be money. It can be toys and games, food, or even your time – spending it with them and giving them human interaction.

And then there’s the Tiso Skills Fun, which was established to compliment the work of the Tiso Foundation Charitable Trust. Their aim? To impart useful skills to the youth and under-resourced communities. You can visit their page HERE.

Perhaps the role you can play is by making use of their services for your own company, which will help empower the youth.

Whichever charity you decide to give to, or the many others out there, know this wonderful story about how even a small act of kindness can make a difference:
A young boy was walking along a beach after the tide had swept a multitude of starfish onto the shore. He would pick them up and throw them back into the sea, giving them a chance to survive before the sun rose too high in the sky. A man happened to be passing by, and said: “What difference do you think you’ll make? There must be hundreds of them! You can’t make a difference to them all!”

To which the boy replied, as he tossed another into the sea. “I made a difference to that one.”