The Season of Giving

portagechamber-logoI believe everyone this time of year has thoughts about something they wish they had or event thoughts about something they hope to receive. I know it happens every year around this time for me. I truly find more joy in giving than in receiving.

There are young people in our community that have smiles on their face every Friday because of the generosity of someone giving to the Back Pack Program. There are men and women all over the world with smiles on their faces as they hold the quilt that they received through the generosity of someone giving to the Quilt of Valor Program.

The opportunity to support these two programs has been met with not just support from our members but with emotion. The $200 donation to guarantee a child food every weekend for 40 weekends when without this program, they would go hungry or $200 for a member of the armed forces laying in a hospital bend to receive a Quick of Valor as not only a thank you but a personal message that someone cares, are two great ways for the giver to feel very special this Christmas.

In the short amount of time our chamber has been involved in helping the young people of Portage and showing gratitude for those sacrificing so much during their service time, many have gotten involved personally. We have had citizen members, business members and corporations taking on a bigger role in these causes.

No chamber can meet all the needs of every child in Portage, or every person touched by war, but the Portage Chamber is going to keep both these programs going as we continue to see the true benefits of our efforts.

If you need more information about either one of these programs, please call the chamber office. You will be glad you did and so will the child or armed forces individual whose life you touch.