Last month, hundreds of Thanksgiving dinners were donated to families in need from Tabitha’s Way food pantries in American Fork and Spanish Fork. In a few days, 900 Christmas dinners will be given to local families in need from the two food pantries. The fixings for these dinners come from donations from local businesses and individuals.

During the holiday season, food donations increase, but the need is still there after the holidays are over. This spirit of generosity is something that will hopefully continue throughout the year so that food banks and pantries like Tabitha’s Way can help the hungry well past the holidays. 

Have you heard about The Forgotten Patient Project at the Utah State Hospital? Dozens of patients are given Christmas presents every year through the donations of strangers. This wonderful project brings some holiday joy to patients who may not normally receive gifts or have visitors. Those wishing to donate are matched up with patients and given a list of items that the patient would like. Then, gifts are purchased and donated for the patients, who range in age from young children to older adults. 

A lot of giving has been happening, and there is still time to do more through the United Way of Utah County’s Sub for Santa program. Kind people stand in for Santa and provide gifts for families who are going through financial struggles. These struggles are due to a variety of circumstances, including job loss, death of family member and health issues. 

The Johansson family from Pleasant Grove has spent much time at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City during the past several months as August Johansson, 12, has been battling leukemia. While August is still fighting his illness, the family wants to help other families who are in similar situations. 

“Our experience with August in the hospital has taught us a lot. We see the struggle from all walks of life. Cancer and sickness doesn’t care if you are poor, wealthy, live close or far,” reads a social media post, written by August’s mother, Rashelle Johannson. She wrote that families come from as far as southern Utah, Idaho and Wyoming to get treatment at Primary Children’s Hospital, with some people driving eight to ten hours for chemotherapy and clinic visits on a regular basis. 

“Even for the parents who live close like us run up large gasoline bills. So anyone that is looking for a place to help spread some Christmas cheer is welcome to join us in donating gas cards to families at Primary Children’s,” she wrote. “We will be collecting money through Venmo over the next two weeks and then delivering the gas cards to families. Venmo @rashelle-johansson and put ‘gas cards’ in the description.” 

Sometimes we’re not in a position to donate monetarily. That’s okay. Donating time, such as volunteering at Tabitha’s Way, is another great way to help others. Giving a smile and a kind word are both free and take very little time.