Letter: Don’t shop, donate to charity

Re: Northern Life managing editor Mark Gentili’s Dec. 2 column, “This is my Christmas shopping pledge.”

I have a solution for the Northern Life editor and all the other folks who find shopping for Christmas is such an anxiety. Just don’t do it.

As I recall from my childhood, Christmas is a religious festival that has nothing to do with spending money on gifts very few need. Even fewer would “need” them without the marketing hype.

Some years ago, we decided to do something different, something more in line with the spirit of Christmas. We stopped shopping — though we do send small mementoes to close family overseas.

Instead, we take what we would be spending and donate it to those who really need it: the food bank, the Salvation Army, Red Cross, Alzheimer Society, Arthritis Society and the cancer foundation.

We all have our own lists, and we don’t mail them to the North Pole. As for gifts, we can all give the most precious gift of our time and effort to make the lives of people and to strengthen our community.

May peace and joy replace haste and anxiety in all of our homes and hearts this Christmas.

Chris Nash
Sudbury