The Spirit of Giving

Despite the fact that many families could barely afford to buy juice, Santa Colm came through big time for the wine drinkers this holiday season; wine like rain — the liquid type, not the physical...

even though sometimes the liquid type does induce the physical version.

Nevertheless, thanks to Santa Colm, ‘it go be wine, lamb, and jam’, literally.

Santa Colm’s charitable announcement really made me realise how aloof politicians are.

With the amount of jobs lost this year, the large number of people hovering to barely avoid descending into poverty and an estimated 17 percent of our brothers, sisters and children living below the poverty line, there are obviously a lot of people struggling to have a decent meal or even give their children a small toy this Christmas.

But who cares about poor people; all that matters is that those who can already afford to buy wine can now have a cheaper glass of it with their lavish Christmas spread today.

Notwithstanding the perverse selfishness of the aforementioned, this season (today is not the end) I want to encourage every Trinbagonian to give something — anything — back to society; regardless of whether it’s an organisation or individuals. It is our duty as human beings to help others and whilst some people want to ‘rounds up’ the mentally- unstable homeless population and throw them into a dilapidated car park, we can start by giving to those folks because no one consciously chooses to live on the street.

Giving has a very interesting dynamic because even in the worst times, people who have nothing will readily give everything; whereas even in the best times, many who have everything, give nothing. I saw it recently on UWI’s campus when I just happened to be passing by the Student Activity Centre on the day when the owner of a small cafe at the back of the building was offering her customers a special Christmas lunch with a free pastelle, slice of black cake and a cup of sorrel- all for the usual price. She is definitely not a wealthy woman, but yet she felt compelled to give something back so generously to these (mainly) students who patronise her business.

Then I compared this to some of those upscale restaurants that are offering Christmas and New Year’s dinner “specials”, which is always more expensive than the regular, and with a more limited menu. What a rip-off! Now, if this column inspires you to dig deep and give back, I want you to consider the following two options: The Elpis Centre is the most awe-inspiring charity I have ever seen. It is operated by an attorney, Mrs Rebekah Ali-Gouveia, who always puts her private practice second to running this centre that she established in 2009.

It is primarily a crisis centre for women, particularly those who are pregnant or who are suffering from the loss of a pregnancy, but most importantly, counselling is provided for women facing a range of issues like depression, relationship challenges, abuse, and childhood dysfunctions.

The centre is also an affiliate of Heartbeat International, and a friend of LIFE International, two Christian, pro-life organisations who seek to give women life-affirming alternatives to abortion.

In addition to these in-house services, the centre conducts many outreach programmes with school PTA groups, churches, youth groups, and social work students and practitioners. Many years ago, I volunteered at a battered women’s home close to my university in Baltimore, Maryland, so I have seen the pain first hand and I cannot begin to stress the importance of a place like this to society.

With all the violence and abuse that women endure in Trinidad and Tobago, there is no organisation more deserving of your charity, support and assistance, so don’t even think twice: elpiscentre@ gmail.com or 383-2674.

The Give a Gift Foundation is based in Arima and although its name may suggest that it’s seasonal, this charity assists families with basic necessities throughout the year.

Last Christmas the Foundation assisted the children of the Home of Our Lady of Wayside and you should have seen the faces of those children when they opened their presents – pure unbridled delight! So, if you want to atone for your 2016 sins, it’s not too late to contribute to their gift and hamper drive across the country this year into 2017: giveagifttt@ gmail.com.

Let’s look out for those less f o r tu n a t e than us; trust me, it’s worth it.

Happy Holidays to the News d a y readership.

See you in 2017! jamille85@msn.com