Updated 28 November 2018

“What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?”

– Dr Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Soon we will be inundated with Santa, stockings, faux snow, food and family. As Andy Williams sang: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

For those who do celebrate Christmas, it’s known as the ‘season of giving’ for a reason. Not just because you give your Mum the standard box of Ferrero Rochers or because you put those Santa socks under the tree for your Dad. At Christmas, we give thanks for all that we have, we give time to our family and friends, and we give love to those closest to us.

Most of us will be lucky enough to spend it surrounded by our favourite humans (including your Uncle Ross – who we know does your head in, but on some level you find affection for him when there’s turkey and cranberry sauce on the table). It’s a time for Kris Kringle at work, school concerts, Carols in [Whatever Park is Near You], laughter, delicious food, bonbons and silly hats, beach days, Boxing Day barbecues, New Year fireworks and a LOT of recycling in the days that follow.

Others will not be so lucky. In the madness of it all it is easy to forget that people will still be homeless and hungry. People will be struggling with substance abuse, or will be victims of abuse. People will find it hard to get out of the house to go to Christmas dinner because they are dealing with depression or anxiety. Some will spend the day at the side of a hospital bed caring for a loved one who is very ill. It goes without saying that children growing up in poverty and living in conflict zones will probably not be fixated on what Santa’s bringing this year.

Thankfully, our charities don’t forget.

Big or small, your donation is powerful

A collection of small good deeds can create a big impact.

You don’t have to give a lot – $5 is very helpful – but obviously the more you give, the more impact you make. Collectively, if you and your colleagues commit to giving $5 each, that amounts to quite a bit.

Make a Christmas Donation

If your company is on the Good2Give platform, sign in to make a pre-tax donation. Your company might even double your impact and match your giving.

• Sign in to the Workplace Giving Platform
• Clicking the Charities tab
• Search for a charity or search Christmas2018 to view appeals.