News - It's a time to be grateful

It’s not that I don’t like the holiday season. In fact, it’s one of my favorite times of year. It was the mere fact that we are heading into the long upstate New York winter that I was not, and still am not ready to accept.

Until last week I was a scrooge. The weather was starting to get cold and Thanksgiving was a week away. My only thought was “where did summer go, and when did this happen?” It felt as if Halloween had just passed and that I was still recovering from that night’s activities.

This all changed Friday when I was asked to volunteer at the Senior Citizens Center of Saratoga Springs. It was their annual Thanksgiving lunch and more than 90 people were expected to turn out for the event. Bill Davis, executive director for the center, said that since the prices of food and other goods are rising while senior’s pensions are staying the same, the center has seen an influx of people who are taking advantage of their low or no cost lunch programs. Because this was a special holiday lunch, the numbers were expected to be even higher, and I was happy to help. Not only would the employees of the center appreciate extra hands, I needed something to show me that this actually is a time to be thankful for everything that life has blessed me with, and to share these feelings with the community.

As I talked with Mr. Davis, I began to realize that this center is a huge staple in the senior community in Saratoga. He told me that many seniors are living in the area on their own because their family has relocated, among other reasons. They use this center as a place not only to have a low cost yet healthy meal, but as a place for friendship and socialization.

It was at this point that I knew I would need to do much more than dish out turkey and mashed potatoes—I needed to open my arms and ears to the seniors of Saratoga Springs, even if just for a few moments. Don’t get me wrong - I am in no way a saint, but there are times when I know there are things I can do to make someone’s day a little better.

I didn’t realize the importance of the senior center until I was actually inside mingling with those who take advantage of the program. It’s places like this, along with Franklin Community Center, the YMCA and countless other local organizations that help to better the lives of others, and donating our time is just one way to support these groups and those who attend. By donating my time, I was able to see how large of a role the center plays in the lives of the seniors, and I became thankful for it.

In a society where many things are put in the back of our minds if we are not directly affected by them, it’s important to step outside of our comfort zones and give back to the communities we live in. After all, isn’t giving back part of the spirit of the holidays?