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To the Editor:
With the holiday season upon us, the frenetic rush to finish our Christmas shopping list hit us full force.
We are running around from one store to the next to get that last gift, the perfect gift. We are fighting traffic, trying to find that parking space close to the store’s entrance.
Once inside, we are overwhelmed by the number of people running around, worrying about the same thing as we are. Once we get what we are looking for, we stand in long lines, but do we take a look around and see the needs of others this holiday season?
Do we hear the Salvation Army bells ringing? Do we hear the pleas and the need for food, toys, clothing, and shelter? Do we react to the people who have lost all or been displaced by Superstorm Sandy?
Do we feel sickened or saddened by events in our news and media? Sandy Hook Elementary, Somalia, to name a few. It is overwhelming — the need and suffering we see.
It is simply too much for one person to bear. But, one person can make a difference and a few can make an even bigger impact.
So, when it came down to how to celebrate this holiday season here at Altamont Sunoco, we employees, of course, thought about a party or doing a Secret Santa, but we took the time to look around and we saw a few people in this community who needed or could use a little help.
We decided, as a group, that we would put some money together and try to make a difference. With the help of a few of our everyday customers and the staff here, we were able to come up with $264 in 10 days. We then divided it by three and purchased three gift cards to Falvo’s Meat Market in Slingerlands, and helped three members of this community.
One is a volunteer firefighter who has been recently laid off, the second is a local woman who has been in this community her entire life, and the third is a recent transplant from the city with young children to feed.
We know it is not a lot of money, but we know we did what we could, and the smiles and appreciation we got from these people for the small gesture we did was priceless.
Happy holidays to all.
Jim Beach
Manager
Altamont Sunoco