Volunteers making a real difference at Christmas

Work aims to make sure no one feel alone this year

As we all snuggle into our Christmas comfort to watch yet another remake of The Christmas Carol – the ghosts once again going through all the moves to tell us that being kind goes a long way – it may also be helpful to remember King John.

Unlike his thoughtful ‘brother’ Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne’s King John’s Christmas holds a warning – one of having and not sharing, one of wanting and not caring, one of living one’s life aloof.

“…King John was not a good man and no good friends had he, He stayed in every afternoon… But no one came to tea. And, round about December, The cards upon his shelf, Which wished him lots of Christmas cheer, And fortune in the coming year, Were never from his near and dear, But only from himself…” it writes.

With a declining standard of living and prospects looking bleak for many Cypriots, volunteer organisations, municipalities and individuals have been busy gathering Christmas essentials so that all families can put on a festive feast over the holidays.

December has indeed been a month of preparation.

Streets are dressed in myriads of lights, decorations adorn every corner, shop windows invite customers to sample their festive wares and buy carloads of gifts, and every house is coated in glitter – even for those that can’t afford to celebrate.

Decorations are stored and brought out year after year.

However, turkeys and gammon, stuffing, and an endless supply of salted or caramelised almonds and cashews, dried fruit and spicy biscuits, tarts and pies, and of course Christmas cakes and puddings, don’t come out of monthly housekeeping, but demand a budget of their own which many families cannot afford.

With 57 per cent of Cypriots saying the rising cost of living threatens their financial security and 56 per cent stressed over financial issues, it is hardly surprising that the basket of goodies this year may be smaller than last.

According to this year’s Financial Wellbeing Index, 24 per cent of respondents said they found it hard to pay all their utility bills at the end of the month, while people aged between 25 and 29 had the lowest financial well-being index value.

This means that a lot of young children may be finding a rather conservative Father Christmas visiting them.

Volunteers though are making sure families have a Christmas dinner, every child gets a gift and people feel they are not alone.

This year, the Pancyprian Volunteerism Coordinative Council ran its Adopt a Family for Christmas campaign for the 11th time to support vulnerable families and provide them with everything they need to celebrate Christmas.

The council collected food items for a Christmas meal, delicacies, gifts for children, vouchers and coupons from supermarkets and stores, and any other supplies that could bring joy to families over the holidays.

The campaign ran from early November till mid-December to prepare the packages and deliver them to the families in time for Christmas.

Individuals, families, municipalities, communities, businesses, educational institutions, government and other departments and services, organisations, groups and others all lent a hand.

People can donate clothing, products and equipment, prepare baskets and hampers, collect necessities and offer hot meals to people in need, as well as join in bazaars, campaigns and actions.

The centre invites anyone with an idea to come forward. “Volunteerism has no limits. A good idea, a good deed can achieve a positive effect on society,” it says.

In a message to mark International Volunteer Day, celebrated on December 5, President of the Volunteerism Centre Elias Demetriou said the effort to get people involved was ongoing.

Apart from the events and campaigns organised by the centre, “hundreds of other actions are implemented silently throughout the year.

“Volunteerism helps people be part of every solution,” he said, adding that “in every corner of the world, volunteers are responding to the challenges with courage, dedication and selflessness.”

Municipalities have run their own campaigns to prepare ‘love packages’, which have been given to vulnerable families ahead of Christmas.

Nicosia gave 745 to students with tickets to festive entertainment, Christmas treats and food items.

In Limassol, about 500 beneficiaries of the social supermarket received packages with fresh products and Christmas treats.

Food parcels were also distributed to beneficiary cardholders in Larnaca by the food bank in time for the holidays.

Other communities and groups have been busy organising their own local campaigns to help people close by who were otherwise unable to afford the Christmas goodies.

But cheer can only spread so far and many corners may be left out, so each one of us can turn to a neighbour.

Sophia’s family is not ‘well off’. Her neighbours, with eight young children, are struggling, so Sophia, her husband and her son prepared a modest basket with something for everyone – food and toys and a few clothes – just so they feel someone is thinking of them.

The glorious Christmases may be a memory for us and a fairytale for many children today.

For many, turkeys have been replaced by chickens, savouries and sweets are fewer, and Christmas crackers are a ghost of the past.

But this does not mean Christmas is lost. On the contrary, those fortunate enough to be able to celebrate with all the frills can make the shift from extravagance to camaraderie – and although the necessity is there for all the wrong reasons, let us allow it to give for all the right reasons, restoring the true meaning of Christmas.

To participate in a more organised effort, keep up to date with the Pancyprian Volunteerism Coordinative Council, which carries out actions all year round. Call 22 514786 (HQ), 22 512602 (Nicosia), 25 737761 (Limassol), 24 650525 (Larnaca), 26 953725 (Paphos), 23 744005 (Famagusta), 97743185 (Kyrenia). www.volunteerism-cc.org.cy, [email protected], www.ethelontis.net