Lend a hand this season

Resslin' Around, by Casey Ressler

Hair ties. It's things like hair ties that really make you realize how bleak the Christmas holiday can be, and why people should get involved in the community.

Wednesday, as a teen-ager from Wasilla High School was putting together a Christmas box for a family in the Special Santa program, he came across the wish list for a 5-year-old girl who lives in the Valley. She wanted hair ties. A 5-year-old.

A 5-year-old should want Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake toys, maybe a keyboard or enough candy to rot her teeth in 12 minutes, not hair ties.

The fact she wanted hair ties tells you a lot about her and her living situation, without ever having the chance to meet her.

As the teen volunteer rooted through toys Wednesday, he couldn't find hair ties. "Hopefully, a toy is just as good," he said as he put a brand new toy in the box.

In the Letters to Santa, you can see how tough some living conditions are as well. Instead of asking for new toys, some kids will ask for a winter coat, new boots or a hat to keep them warm -- things that should be basic living supplies for kids in Alaska.

They'll also ask Santa to make sure their parents don't fight as much, or that their sister could come live with them again. What do you begin to tell a kid that asks for those things?

The Special Santa program, and through it, programs like Toys for Tots, makes sure families not only get toys for Christmas, but also an extra coat, a pair of gloves and perhaps a pair of boots.

A $25,000 donation of clothing from Lands End certainly helped the Special Santa program this year, and many Valley kids will be warm as a result.

If you have an extra coat in the closest, a pair of unwanted boots or a snowsuit that's too small for your 5-year-old, why not get rid of it by making sure others stay warm? Same thing with unwanted toys.

Others would love to have those toys or pieces of clothing -- regardless if it is Christmas Day or the middle of January.

The Salvation Army's theme is "Need Knows No Season," and in the weeks following, many people will forget to donate because Christmas is over, and the holidays are winding down.

But the winter doesn't get any warmer if you don't have a coat. Winter isn't any less cruel to the child who doesn't get a hat for Christmas.

Christmas is supposed to be a festive time, but for many, it's one of the toughest times of the year. Bad situations are magnified during December it seems.

This season, lend a helping hand and know that need doesn't end when the holidays do.

Chip in and help others -- it's the best Christmas gift you can give, and probably the most appreciated.

Casey Ressler (valleylife@frontiersman.com) is the Valley Life editor.