Chamber News & Views
The Holidays always seem to bring out the best in people. Well, maybe not at 11:30 p.m. Christmas Eve when you’re in line trying to snag that last minute gift or desperate to buy another bag of dinner rolls. But I’ve heard from many people about their favorite forms of charitable giving throughout the holiday season, and how it ends up making them feel as good about giving as those receiving their holiday gestures. I would agree. My favorite holiday activity is joining The Rough Riders for their Teddy Bear runs on Christmas Eve. The holiday season is never complete until we’ve handed out beads and bears in an attempt to try to cheer up the hard-working hospital staff and those patients needing to stay put during the holiday season.
At the Chamber this season, I’ve seen first-hand the generosity of Sun City Center area residents. We are assisting two organizations: Operation Toy Soldier that collects toys for children of deployed military, spearheaded by Veterans Funeral Care; and the Good Samaritan Mission Food Drive. As we see every year, all the donation bins will be filled, emptied and refilled over and over again throughout the holiday season.
Wouldn’t it be great if that glow of holiday giving lasted throughout the year? There are so many worthwhile organizations in and around the area that could use our help. If you are looking for some way to extend that warm holiday feeling, just drop by the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce and take a look at our membership directory. The non-profit section is filled with groups and organizations that would love your time, your talents or whatever you have to offer. Let’s try to make 2019 the year that Holiday Cheer spreads throughout the entire year.
Lynne Conlan is Executive Director of the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce. Call her at 813-634-5111, or email lynne@sccchamber.com.