NWA EDITORIAL: The NWA Democrat Gazette delivers a way for readers to help others

The Community Christmas Card is back

Readers of this newspaper and its predecessors have for years stepped up when needs were identified and they were given an opportunity to make a difference.

A lot of changes have happened to the newspaper industry over the years, but none of that has changed the holiday season wish to support the region the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette covers and where its employees also live and contribute to their communities regularly.

The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Community Christmas Card returns for another season, again giving the readers of this newspaper an outstanding opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others who need a helping hand.

Many will be familiar with how this works. The opportunity to give is already underway and will continue through Dec. 31. Donors who give $3 or more by 5 p.m. Dec. 20 will have their names published, if they choose, in the printed and digital replica editions of the newspaper at Christmas.

The Community Christmas Card has evolved over the years as the newspaper's partnership with charitable organizations has witnessed change that is a natural part of being a growing region. Whether the effort has focused on meeting student needs in area school districts or putting food on tables across our communities, readers have marshalled their resources to help their neighbors.

Northwest Arkansas can, mistakenly, be seen as only the land of milk and honey. Its abundance helps to disguise difficult challenges that face some people, either chronically or just as they go through a difficult phase of life. Need is need, no matter whether the circumstances last for years or for just a season.

We would like to wish these problems away, if only it were that easy. But it's not. Those in need will always be with us and may, heaven forbid, one day be us. Let us not discount that possibility. If we are now living a life of abundance, why not share that with those who are not currently in such a good place?

All donations this year will go to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.

The minimum donation to qualify to have one's name in the Christmas print and replica edition of the newspaper is, as noted, $3. Just $3. And it's certainly fair to wonder just how much $3 can help. But when we put together all those $3 donations with the gifts of people who are able to give more, it adds up. Just since 2010, donations have exceeded $150,000. That is something every person who has given to the Community Christmas Card can feel pride in.

We are told the news folks in this operation will include a story in Sunday's paper describing this year's effort in more detail. We suppose we just wanted to use the space as a way to prime the pump, so to speak.

Across Northwest Arkansas, there are a great many nonprofit organizations that can benefit from your generosity during this holiday season and all year long. We encourage readers to open up the purse strings to help make life just a little less stressful for those in need. Giving is a great way to count one's blessings, to give real form to thankfulness. Few actions can express appreciation for abundance better than giving some of it away and broadening its benefits.

This newspaper is proud to create one path by which the people of Northwest Arkansas can express their generosity during this holiday season. We know the people working at the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank will be deeply appreciative of any contribution to the effort.

In advance, we also just wanted to say thank you.

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