’Tis the season of joy and warmth, and while I relish the cozy ambience it brings, the hustle and bustle often leaves me feeling overwhelmed.
There is just too much to do. Too many parties. Too many expectations. Too much stress.
I like it when it’s all over and I can revert to my couch and read in peace while hibernating most of winter.
This year, I’ve chosen to embrace the true spirit of the season — giving. Beyond the usual gestures of dropping a toy or canned goods into donation bins, I felt compelled to take a more hands-on approach to counteract the Grinch-like feelings that sometimes creep in.
This year, I decided to volunteer with the Bradford Women’s+ Group and its inspiring holiday handbag campaign.
If you haven’t heard about these incredible women, I encourage you to explore their story. Established in 2019, the group convenes monthly for engaging discussions and activities, usually hosted in the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library — an invaluable partner in our mission to enrich the lives of others.
Teaming up with the charity Abuse Hurts and its Handbags of Hope campaign, our aim this year was to collect 300 new or gently used purses filled with essential toiletry items for victims of abuse. The outpouring of support from local businesses serving as drop-off locations for donations has been heartening.
Earlier this week, we were honoured to host Ellen Campbell, the founder and CEO of Abuse Hurts, who shared the impactful work of the charity with our group. Simultaneously, we crafted friendship bracelets and penned notes of love and encouragement to accompany the bags.
As the weekend approaches, our dedicated team will be tirelessly working at the library to gather, organize, and prepare the bags for delivery to Abuse Hurts, where they will be distributed to those in need.
This, along with the donations to our new Community Fridge and the County of Simcoe Paramedic Services Food and Toy Drive, has truly stirred my holiday spirit. It warms my heart to see people come together for the greater good.
In retrospect, over the years I have been focusing too much on the commercialization of the holiday season and not making the time to give back in a bigger way.
Witnessing the community unite for a greater purpose warms my heart, serving as a poignant reminder the essence of the season lies in giving back.
I wish you all a happy, joyous holiday season.
’Til next week, happy reading.
Natasha Philpott is the marketing and communications coordinator at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library. She can be reached at [email protected].
