Except that for many people, it is not really the most wonderful time of year and can, in fact, be one of the most difficult times of year. The holiday season often presents a challenging combination of high expectations, family drama, and school pressure with semester exams - all of which can result in unbelievably high levels of stress. This is even more prevalent if you and your family are struggling to make ends meet this holiday season.
My top recommendation for everyone is to try to keep a sense of perspective on what is reality. It becomes very easy to get caught in the mindset that the holiday is supposed to be this picture-perfect celebration. Yet, that is seldom the reality. When watching TV it is nearly impossible to escape seeing commercials and holiday movies that depict images of snow gently falling, families coming together with smiles and excitement, food overflowing on the tables, loved ones unwrapping the perfect gifts, sleigh rides through parks decorated with holiday lights, and communities gathered together singing carols. I enjoy the sentiments that the movies are trying to depict, but if we begin thinking that this is what life is really like then we are bound to be disappointed. For example, in my family we have wonderful holidays, but we have never gone on sleigh rides or participated in community caroling and, if I am being completely honest, the wonderful moments are also mixed with stressful times of trying to get everything ready or missing those who are unable to be there for the holiday. If I were to compare my real holidays with that perfect image seen on TV I would inevitably be disappointed.
So, what can you do to help with the holidays?
Don't expect the holidays to be perfect. They NEVER are.
Focus on what you have, not what you don't. Ignore the commercials where the husband surprises his wife with a brand new luxury car or a diamond ring. This only leaves you wondering, "What about me?" Remind yourself that it's not the stuff that makes the holidays important.
The holidays can bring back memories of loved ones that have passed away. Give yourself permission to grieve, and deal with the loss in your own way. If you want to cry, go ahead. If you want to remember your loved one in a special way, do it - light a candle, put together a scrapbook, decorate the grave stone with flowers, or whatever else you find comforting.
Focus on what you have, not what you don't. Ignore the commercials where the husband surprises his wife with a brand new luxury car or a diamond ring. This only leaves you wondering, "What about me?" Remind yourself that it's not the stuff that makes the holidays important.
The holidays can bring back memories of loved ones that have passed away. Give yourself permission to grieve, and deal with the loss in your own way. If you want to cry, go ahead. If you want to remember your loved one in a special way, do it - light a candle, put together a scrapbook, decorate the grave stone with flowers, or whatever else you find comforting.
Feel whatever you are feeling. Sometimes people talk about “holiday blues” or feeling depressed by the holiday stress and others might feel excited, generous or disappointed. Try not to over-analyze how you are feeling and just experience it – acknowledge it and try to live in the moment no matter the feeling.
Holidays can bring a great deal of joy and holiday spirit and I hope you will embrace that when possible. This is most evident each year as I watch our school come together each year to help families in need with the “Adopt a Child” campaign. It is heart-warming to see our student body unite together to help other students and families. Knowing that you are helping to brighten the holiday for families experiencing financial and emotional stress is one of the greatest gifts you can give and helping others is often the best way to help make you feel better too.
However, for some students it is hard to focus on trying to brighten the holiday for other families when you are worrying about what you will have for Thanksgiving dinner or how you will eat during winter break. I hope I can suggest some resources that you (or maybe a friend of yours) could use.
Below is a short list of places where you may be able to get help.
- One of the local churches, Worthington Presbyterian Church, is providing WKHS with all of the food for Thanksgiving meals so that we can distribute them to families in need. If you need help with a Thanksgiving meal, please contact me ASAP so that I can try to see if I can arrange for a meal for you.
- Community Cares Backpack Program:
A group of dedicated, compassionate and incredibly thoughtful Worthington mom's do a variety of things to help our school community through the Activity Club. One of those programs is to provide backpacks of food that students can take home with them over the weekend to add a little extra to their family's food supplies. Every other week, we receive several backpacks that we can distribute. If this resource is something that would be helpful for you, please let me know so that I can add you onto the list for future backpacks. Please note that while this is provided by WKHS mom's, it is still confidential - they provide the backpacks to us and we distribute the bags to our students in need.
- Worthington Resource Pantry:www.worthingtonresourcepantry.org 614-985-1766
Located at 6700 Huntley Rd., Columbus, OH 43229, the Worthington Resource Pantry provides families in our community with food and other resources of support. Their hours are Mondays 10 - 2, Wednesdays 3 - 7, and the 3rd & 4th Saturdays of the month from 10 - 12.
- Dublin Food Pantry: www.dublinfoodpantry.org
If you live in the 43016 zip code you could also utilize the Dublin Food Pantry.
- Faith Mission:
If you are in need of a free meal, please join Faith Mission at the Community Kitchen (245 N. Grant Ave.) during the following times. Breakfast: Men – 6:30 – 7:15 (8:30 – 9:30 on weekends and holidays) Women and families – 7:30 – 8:15 Lunch: Women and families – 11:30 – 12:15 Men – 12:30 – 1:30 Dinner: Women and families – 5:30 – 6:15 Men – 6:45 – 7:45 See more at: http://www.lssnetworkofhope.org/faithmission/services/
- Kroger Community Pantry:
The Kroger Community Pantry is run in partnership with Mid-Ohio Food Bank. The Kroger Community Pantry is located at 3960 Brookham Dr., Grove City. Current hours are on Tuesdays from 12 – 5pm, Wednesdays from 4 – 7pm, Fridays from 9 – 2pm, and Saturdays from 9 – 1pm. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to posted closing time. Also, because the pantry relies on volunteers to remain open, the pantry may close earlier than posted times. Please call 614-317-9487 before you arrive to hear any changes to the schedule. https://www.midohiofoodbank.org/get-help/
- Hands On Central Ohio: http://handsoncentralohio.org By phone: 211
Hands on Central Ohio is an organization dedicated to connecting those in need with resources. Information about Thanksgiving meals for those who need them can be found at: https://211centralohio.org/MatchList.aspx?k;;0;;N;0;573603;Thanksgiving%20Meals;Thanksgiving;Partial;570443
And they also have information about Christmas food and gifts that can be found at: https://211centralohio.org/KeywordList.aspx?;;0;;N;0;573604;Holiday;Partial
- Regular Monthly Meals:
You may already know this because we have this resource is available year-round and is featured on the WKHS Counselor website, but several local churches provide meals to anyone in the community needing assistance. This page highlights where and when these meals are available to families in need.
I am fully aware that all needs are not just related to food. Here are a few resources if you have additional needs.
- Charity Newsies http://www.charitynewsies.com/getting-help/
Charity Newsies is an organization that provides clothing to students in need. A parent/ legal guardian needs to arrange for the clothing to be provided, but they can provide a complete set of clothing needs for each student that qualifies and needs it.
- Salvation Army: Food and Toys
Perhaps you have seen the red kettles that appear each year - these donations are used to help provide food and gifts for families in need. Information about their Christmas assistance program is available here: http://co.salvationarmy.org/CentralOhio/christmas-assistance
Registration for assistance will take place this coming week (Week of November 13th) and the week after Thanksgiving (Week of November 27th). Specific details about times and locations as well as required documentation are available on the Salvation Army's website. Once families have registered for food and toy assistance, you will then go to the Ohio State Fairgrounds on December 19, 20, or 21st to receive your toys and holiday meal. If you have questions, you can contact them at 614-358-2622.
- 2 Hands: Specific Needs
This online resource helps connect Ohio families in need with those who are willing and able to help. Families indicate their specific needs on the website and then others volunteer to help meet those needs. Information about this resource is available at: http://www.2hands.org/online-christmas-help/in-ohio.php
- Single Parents Alliance of America
I heard that this organization also had resources to help support individuals who qualify, but I will be honest, I am not sure what those resources include. It is worth looking into though if you are a single parent to see if it might be of help. http://www.spaoa.org/splash/?gclid=CPTnge_tg8kCFQktaQodF9sNpA
As always, please stop by and talk if you are having problems this holiday season. If you need food, clothing or just want to talk about some struggles you are having, my door is open for you. I hope you are able to relax and enjoy this holiday season.
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