It’s always heartening to see members of our community come together to help those among us in need. This Christmas season, there seems to be no shortage of giving spirit in Brant.

As reporter J.P. Antonacci points out in a story about Christmas day meals for the less fortunate in this week’s Brant News, many in our community do not have a hearth to gather around this Christmas, nor loved ones with whom to share the holiday. Yet, thanks to the generosity of many giving community members, everyone in Brant will have a place to share a Christmas meal.

Up to 250 people are expected at a Christmas Day lunch being served at St. Andrew’s Church on Darling Street. The inaugural event is an example of community spirit at its finest, with social agencies, churches, charities and food banks coming together to make a brighter Christmas for all who attend. As well as the St. Andrew’s meal, members of the congregation at Heritage United Church will once again serve their Christmas Day breakfast, an annual tradition that began eight years ago.

Pleasant Valley Church on Market Street South is also set to host a free community Christmas Day breakfast, the Salvation Army Booth Centre will serve lunch on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and, just before the big day, Why Not Brantford Youth Centre will host a Christmas Eve dinner for youth aged 13 to 21. All together, these meals show Brant’s true colours as a generous and giving place.

But the planning of Christmas meals is just the beginning of the giving spirit on display in Brant this holiday season.

Also profiled in this week’s Brant News is Assumption College School’s Pennies from Heaven campaign, which has seen the ACS community raise more than $8,000 to help purchase Christmas food hampers, winter coats, boots, toys and blankets – among other goods – for 32 in-need families. The campaign is a fine example of what young people can accomplish when they choose to give back.

Officers of the Brantford Police Service have also embraced the giving spirit, last week helping serve up Major Ballachey Public School’s annual Festive Feast Turkey Dinner to about 250 members of the school community. Yet another example of Christmas kindness is provided in a story this week about Princess Elizabeth School’s gift exchange, made possible through the support of ONEchurch Brantford, a coalition of churches across the city.

And, on Friday, more than 2,000 local families will receive a holiday helping hand courtesy of the Community Resource Service Christmas Baskets program. Each year, the program provides a Christmas meal and toys to local families in need, with goods included in the baskets donated by local individuals, businesses and community groups leading up to the holiday season. All of the above are not to mention the numerous local business, organizations and community groups that have staged independent food and toy drives.

This Christmas, members of our community have gone above and beyond to show they care, working together to better the lives of others. As these examples illustrate, pulling together for the greater good is something we do very well in Brant, especially at Christmastime. A sincere thank you to all who help make these good works happen.

And from all of us at Brant News, here’s wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, happy holidays and all the best in the new year ahead.