Dear Friends,

Last week I talked about finding a way to give back and help someone in need, and I took my own advice. This past Friday, Commerce Chenango teamed up with SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus, NBT Bank, Chobani, Helping Hands Norwich, the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce, a variety of businesses and volunteers to provide holiday meals to families in need. In just over three hours, we were able to distribute full holiday meal kits to 400 families throughout Chenango County.

When Lindsey Lafevre, Pegi LoPresti and I started collaborating on this project, there were a number of things that had to be worked out. Thankfully, our friends at SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus had some experience with this and took the lead on getting us organized, making calls to get quotes and orders on food, and figuring out how many families we could help with our pooled resources. As word got out about what we were planning, this event got even bigger with various community groups jumping on board with more donations and offers to help. In an effort to try to help more in the county, we called our colleagues at the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce to see if they would be willing to lead the food distribution in Bainbridge, and without hesitation, they agreed.

All was going as planned, until we heard early in the week about Winter Storm Gail. When I woke up Thursday morning and looked outside to see two feet of snow, my first thought was “I am so happy this came today and not tomorrow!” I think all of us involved in the planning of this event breathed a sigh of relief when the snow tapered off and it looked like Friday would be cold, but clear of the storm.

I cannot begin to describe what it feels like to know that you are doing something good for your community and know that you are making a real difference in someone’s life. Friday morning I was feeling especially emotional, happy and hopeful for the day, and I came across a great quote that said, “Helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person.” Think about that. Think about the impact that one person can have on someone else. Do we ever stop and think about how our words or action impacts someone else? I am not saying you have to help organize a community food drive, but there are small things we can do to help others, and help yourself.

Before you get too down on yourself for feeling the holiday ‘bah humbug’s’ this year, know that you are certainly not alone. There is nothing wrong with being sad, with wishing things were different or not having the holiday spirit. I think it comes down to perspective. I know my kids are excited about Christmas. They know it will be different this year, but they have already started making plans for us.

My holiday break will be filled with games, crafting, baking and watching movies from our movie jar.

I probably should explain the movie jar. My daughters who are 20 (Rachael), and 12 (Grace), rarely agree on a movie to watch. In truth, my oldest and I tend to agree as she loves movies from the 80’s, and old black and white movies (which I am just loving), but my youngest has a much different view on what constitutes a good movie. So, Rachael came up with the “Movie Jar” idea.

First, we made a pact that no matter what movie is selected from the jar there would be no arguing and we would all watch it. Each of us wrote down five or six different movies we would want to watch, and it went into the jar. The system has worked out quite well for Gracie because of the last five movies we have watched together, four of them have been her choices. I am excited because I know mine will come around soon – odds are in my favor!

The best present you can give yourself this year is a break. Find ways that are meaningful to you to find your joy. For those of you that need help dealing with holiday blues please know there are resources and people available to you. This year, more than ever, we need to be sensitive and aware that depression is real and that there is help for you. Mental health is so important and if life has you down, please reach out to a family member, friend or co-worker for support. If you don’t have anyone you feel like you can call, then reach out to a service like Chenango County Mental Health; you can call them Monday – Friday at (607) 337-1600, and after hours you can call the toll-free hotline at 1-877-369-6699.

I truly wish each of you a wonderful holiday, and hope that you can find your own joy in whatever shape, or form that is. For me, it’s knowing that we are closer to selecting my movie choices, and that I am currently reigning champion for Monopoly. My youngest seems to have Uno clinched, so I need to work on that during my break!

Happy Holidays, Chenango.

– Kerri Green, Evening Sun Columnist