It is not a news bulletin in any way, however, our world is involved in the build up to the holiday season. In little more than two weeks Christmas will be celebrated and so will Hanukkah, both followed by Kwanzaa, an African American culture celebration. There is a special day nearly every day of the year, however, the holiday season in late December is the most special.
The Voice reflects the special time this week and will for several more weeks. Just absorbed, especially, pages 1, 3, 8, and12. Photos of the season are appropriate.
This time of the year the relevant food pantries are important. In the last year they have stepped into the breach of an increasing number of individuals who require food assistance, the quiet part for some persons who do not want to see the need.
Food pantries working to help the hungry, and by no means a complete list, include Loaves and Fishes in Naperville and Aurora; the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry; Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry; Village Baptist Church food Pantry in Aurora; Calvary Food Pantry in Naperville; DuPage Interfaith and Green Earth Institute, both in DuPage County, West Suburban Community Pantry in Lisle offer assistance.
The Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry recently completed a major drive that brought in 11,274 pounds of food and $115,000 financial donations.
Prisco Food Store in Aurora annually participate by selling food bags which help the pantries make money with sales of the food. The need is great and many communities step in to offer assistance.
Duly noted:
• Gardening and growing plans can lead to a natural gift that can be fun, takes patience, and is rewarding. Consideration could include Christmas cacti which faithfully blooms every year with frilly flowers of white pin, red. Long, dark, nights are especially helpful. Care is easy.
• The Illinois House of Representatives last week gave final passage to a bill at prohibition of State investment in assets tied to Russia and Belarus. War in Ukraine must not be swept away in the tradition, joy, and excitement of the holiday season. War is real and Ukraine has earned the respect of many countries for withstanding the war factor exerted by Russia. Now, Russia is on the spot because of many war failures, including faltering military troops. Russia has increased a bombing campaign and is all too focused on causing harm and not diminishing attacks. We must be real in our assessments. Russia will not arbitrarily recede its attacks.
• There is nothing wrong with starting now with New Year’s Resolutions. We all can find improvement in our ways and personal lives. Old-fashioned? Perhaps, however, improvement one day at a time cuts across all faiths, agencies, and daily functions. Yes, we can be relevant to be plus, rather, than minus.