The joy of Christmas is in giving. Selecting just the right gift for a loved one and seeing it bring cheer is a special delight this time of year. An equal amount of satisfaction can be enjoyed by giving to anonymous individuals, knowing the gift will make a hard life a little easier, a little more filled with hope.
While the lights twinkle and shopping centers fill and the anticipation of family and friends gathering grows, there are thousands on Maui who greet each day with dread or despair - the homeless, the hungry, the lonely, the abused, the physically disabled, the mentally handicapped and those who have lapsed into a never-never land of drug abuse.
The Maui United Way has officially reached the end of its campaign season, but it is not too late to make a pledge or donation. The easiest way to do it is to use the donate online feature - www.mauiunitedway.org/DonateOnline.
The Maui United Way and its member agencies - not to mention the organizations not affiliated with the MUW - are facing the new year with increased demands and little hope of receiving more funds in the way of grants often tied to a specific program or specific needs.
Christmas is a time for giving. The Maui United Way makes your gift work for the betterment of the community. Donors can specify their money goes to a particular agency or community need. There are other agencies that also serve Maui's social needs.
A list of the MUW agencies and others can be found on their Web site, Mauiunitedway.org
In the middle of an often hectic season, a little time spent thinking about others can add to the joy of the season.
(A version of this editorial appeared previously in The Maui News.)
* Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.
