The Carrier’s editorial opinion represents the views of the senior members of the Campus Carrier and Viking Fusions’ news staff.

Even though most of America has caught the holiday fever, this time of year can be an empty time for many people, especially college students. Not everyone looks forward to spending a month in close quarters with their immediate family for a month while the same Hallmark movies play on repeat. The reason people often feel empty during this time of the year is because all of their attention is focused on idealizing how the holidays should look and then being disappointed when not everything looks like those picture-perfect Hallmark movies. In short, people often focus too much on themselves during the holiday season. 

A fix for this is taking the focus off of trying to make your holiday the best it can be and to put your attention on your community. No matter where you are returning to after finishing exams, your city needs your help. Many men, women and children will be spending the holidays on the streets, in a shelter or in a home with little to no food or gifts. 

Realizing the reality of poverty in your city and around the world can be paralyzing, especially as a broke college student like yourself. But the good news is that giving your time is often more valuable to charities than giving money. Your local food bank would love your help organizing boxes and stacking cans for families that otherwise wouldn’t have a Christmas dinner. Volunteering at a community kitchen is a great way to see poverty face-to-face and make a tangible impact. Putting a face to charity is incredibly important if you want to make true, meaningful change.

But don’t forget about service after the holidays are over. Even though, according to BusinessWire, charitable donations increase by 42 percent during the last two months of the year, your city’s problems won’t be solved by Dec. 31. Form a relationship with a charity or nonprofit organization, whether in your city or here in Rome. Go once a week, twice a month or whenever you can. But make time in your schedule to give back to your community, even after coming back to Berry.

There are so many places in Rome that need volunteers. Open Door Children’s Home, which provides for neglected children in Rome and Floyd County, has openings for volunteers to come visit with children as well as do work projects such as painting and beautification around their facilities. The Hospitality House, an emergency and outreach resource center for women that have been victims of domestic violence, fund their work through a thrift store in West Rome where volunteers can organize donations and help customers in the store. Action Ministries has many ways to help Romans living in poverty be able to feed their families, including food pantries and Backpack Buddies, which provides elementary-aged children with groceries while they are home for the weekend without school meals. 

Serving is important during the holidays because it takes your attention away from frantically trying to create a great holiday season. It provides you with a way to make sure others in your community have the same chance of having a safe, warm and healthy holiday season that you do. But serving is just as important throughout the year, because poverty won’t disappear overnight. It is important to remember the needs of your community all year long. It will give you a sense of purpose as well as making Rome, or whatever city you are serving, a better place.

So make some calls and give your time. Reach out to your own city over winter break, and connect with a charity here in Rome when you return in January. Make it a priority. If you don’t, who will?