Off Topic: A Helping Hand at Christmas Time

Donating just £10 isn't much, but it's enough to help make a difference for Shelter.

Christmas. December 25th. Not long now.

Get up in the morning, put on your smartest designer clothes and mull over in your mind about what your loving family might have purchased for you to show their love and affection towards you this year, or to keep you quiet in the consumer boom that is Christmas time. After all, it is about giving and receiving so you think about if your presents are the best choices this year, if your SO will be happy with the 5th handbag or jewellery that she absolutely needed and if the Turkey is going to be piping hot and cooked to perfection with all the trimmings.

When you're unwrapping you presents, you're evidently ecstatic with your purchases and gifts, thinking about a strong haul this time around and with the cash injection you received from your parents this season, you start to inadvertently think what deals you could snap up in the Boxing Day sales as your financial windfall ultimately eases the pressure just before payday.

But, just a thought. When you go out and shop until you drop, making your boyfriend (or girlfriend if you're full of year round 'Christmas Cheer' hold their bags while they enjoy a fun, expensive day, shopping until they drop with the latest fashion, gadgets and technology. In the midst of that, in the bigger cities, such as

Brighton, East Sussex, it's almost certain that you will walk past someone who has nothing this Christmas, not a single present to their name, no money in a Christmas card, nor will they have no one to love in a warm and toasty bed and may have to make do with only leftover cold turkey to enjoy later after the whole Christmas season is well and truly finished with.

Spare a thought for the thousands of homeless folk in and around our wonderful nation. Not for a second must you think that they are outside in the freezing cold because they are 'actors' because you once read in the Daily Mail that opportunists sit on the streets for pocket money. This is a real problem at stake and one that people should address en masse. But sadly, people will be thinking about that bargain in the sale or the joys of their 10% student discount this season.

I am not religious, nor do I really enjoy Christmas a great deal but other's do. Homeless people enjoy Christmas too and relish a chance to relive happy days with a roof under their heads. Love one another and spare a little to the people that are hard up on the streets this season. They're only human like you and I.

So, what I have done is donated £10 to Shelter. A charity that I know do good causes for addressing the homeless problem we have in the UK and give people that little bit of hope, especially when it's sub zero out there. I know it's not a great deal, but I am happy that I have donated to helping the cause and make someone's day come December 25th.

Forget that pint, or the tin of Celebrations, just donate what you can and I assure you at this time, the time for giving and receiving as you do with family, friends, and significant others just do the same to someone who really needs it because I am sure if you were in the same position, they'd certainly help you out if you were dealt a bad hand in the game of poker we all endure called Life.

Enjoy your Christmas, or holiday season (depending on your faith of course!), but spare a thought and it will go a long way than that beer you thought about purchasing.