The holiday season brings more than just twinkling lights and cold flurries. For many, it’s a time of reflection, gratitude and giving back to the community.
This is a season of light and warmth—a time to gather with family and friends, enjoy festive traditions or simply slow down after a busy year. But winter can also bring bracing winds and stress with the rush of finding the perfect gift, balancing schoolwork and preparing for the long-awaited break. Even so, there’s a lingering reminder of ways to give back even in small ways.
For high school students, the spirit of giving is deeply personal and increasingly intentional. Junior Janey Carron described a lasting family tradition.
“Usually if we get, like, clothes for Christmas, we’ll have to take some out of our closet and take them to Goodwill and stuff,” Carron said.
Oftentimes, an individual’s desire is fueled by echoes of encouragement from parents who lead by example. Junior Milo Buehler is familiar with the importance of giving back, having grown up around modeled compassion.
“My parents donate to Toys For Tots at the local fire station,” Buehler said.
Locally, organizations like Besa have laid the groundwork for community giving. Besa created a unique program in 2012 called WISH that focuses on supporting senior citizens—a demographic often overlooked in holiday giving initiatives.
“A lot of programs are for families and kids and even pets, but there’s not that many for seniors,” Matthew Goldstein, founder and CEO of Besa, said.
Annually, about 2,000 seniors in Columbus are served. Each senior creates a wish list which is fulfilled by a volunteer, who then wraps the gifts and brings them to a “Winter Wonderland” event held by Besa in December. Goldstein emphasized the importance of the program beyond a physical gift.
“It’s not just the present. It’s this idea of community love that they’re seeing, that they matter. That basic humanity goes so far,” Goldstein said.
Acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, can ripple through the community and create a sense of connection through shared purpose. High schoolers and people throughout the city demonstrate this effort by showing that it’s not about grand gestures, but the thought that goes behind the small acts of support for others.
In the current social landscape, marked by division and increasing isolation, these acts of giving take on an even greater significance.
“Loneliness is an epidemic today,” Goldstein noted. “When we’re more lonely, miscommunication goes up, empathy [and] kindness go down, and we kind of just retreat into our corners.”
The solution, he argued, is simple: community engagement and volunteering.
“When we volunteer with people that look like us and [people who] look nothing like us, it builds community,” Goldstein said.
This perspective is particularly resonant during the holiday season—a time that can bring both joy and stress. For many students, there’s a growing recognition that community service isn’t just about charitable acts but creating genuine human connection. The holidays serve as a reminder that giving is an act that transcends material exchange. Junior Bella Anderson reflected on her personal values.
“For me, the holidays are a time to be extra grateful and to make sure that you are showing gratitude to those around you,” Anderson said.
It’s during these moments of balancing schoolwork, finding perfect gifts and preparing for a much-needed break that giving back can provide perspective and meaning. Finding ways to contribute to something greater, on any scale, can make stress feel lighter.
“There’s definitely a philanthropy of wanting to support others during the holiday season and it’s beautiful, right? Even when you think about this moment, coming out of an election, just how divided people are. Giving back bridges divides,” Goldstein said.
As demonstrated by Besa, holiday giving can take many forms. From high school students donating clothing to local nonprofits fulfilling wish lists for seniors, generosity floods the community through acts of compassion—one gift at a time.
