Holiday Essay Contest

“If we can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hunger.” —Buzz Aldrin

    Over forty years ago, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first astronauts to walk on the moon. But even today, with all our technological innovations, there are children and teenagers going to bed hungry because no one could give them dinner. My family and I help during the holiday season. Every time there is a sale on canned goods, we will buy twenty or thirty cans and donate it to the Olean Food Pantry. We do the same with dog and cat food, but we donate it the Olean SPCA. Personally I ring the Salvation Army bell. I also walk my neighbor’s pug, Pugsley. My neighbor really appreciates because Pugsley is a very energetic dog, but my neighbor is getting a little to old to keep up with her. I really like to help my community during the holiday season.

 --Adam

How My Family and I Give Back During the Holiday Season

 Sometimes I really can’t believe how lucky I am to be healthy, have a warm house, and both parents. I idolize my grandmother, who, even though she’s dying, still sends a homemade present all the way from Kansas to New York. Every time we go to Tops, we drop a few dollars in the Charity Santa’s bucket, or we put our pocket change in the SPCA donation box. Hey, that $5 could’ve just saved someone’s life. I remember one day when my friend and I were at Park ‘n’ Shop and we peeked in the SPCA donations box and found out somebody used it as a trash can. Then, with the money we had to get a snack, we used it to get as many cans of dog and cat food as we could buy and dropped it in the box. If you aren’t part of the problem already, be part of the solution. You’ll never regret doing the right thing.

 --Aline

How My Family and I Give Back During the Holiday Season

 When you hear the words, “holiday season,” what image comes to mind? For many, it’s a time of joy, celebration, and happiness. People think of Santa, turkey, lights, and mostly being surrounded by friends and family. The holiday season, can be a time of sadness, stress, and financial woes. Unfortunately, some people do not view the holiday image with happiness because there’s no food or presents. My family and I invest our time making sure children in need have a holiday to remember. We give to ensure that one less child doesn’t wake up without presents under the tree. Our family donates food to the Olean Food Pantry, we take part in the Giving Tree, and we ring the Salvation Army bell. The most memorable project for me was the Christmas that a family was left unchosen for help. My mother and I, at the last minute, shopped for several children. I helped choose clothing that I knew each child would enjoy. We picked out warm jackets and hats. My mom and I wrapped everything up with bows and the gifts were delivered on time. My family and I give back during the holiday season through various donations, goodwill, and compassion to ensure many people are helped.

 --Jared

How My Family and I Give Back During the Holiday Season

             My family respects the community by donating clothing like scarves, mittens, hats, coats and shorts, shoes. I also shovel my neighbors drive way when it snows. I help them because I want to be nice and because they do so much for us and take us out for dinner. I would love to have my family and I to go to a foster home and volunteer to help the elderly with their problems because that makes me feel good inside. My family and I sometimes take care of and babysit little kids like between two and eight for free. I have to feed them and play games with them. We also make food for the people who live on the streets and the elderly because their shirts are all ripped and so are their pants and shoes.

 --Kylee