As Halloween is quickly approaching, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before we know it. And based on the ads in this morning’s Times, it is clear that kids are already being encouraged to consider their wish lists for the season.

For some, it will be a new iSomething; for others a new toy, stuffed animal, bike or, for one of my daughters, a hamster. But this is also a great season for teaching our children about the joy that comes from sharing what we have with others.

In our world of instant gratification and the insatiable desire for consumption, we sometimes need to be intentional about demonstrating the importance of giving. In my experience, I have found it to be an opportunity that they have come to enjoy and have asked to do repeatedly.

Through my work with United Way, my daughters have had the opportunity to host a food drive, help paint a dilapidated school, pack children’s food bags, and purchase holiday gifts for needy children.

Even without directly seeing or meeting the children they are helping, through these experiences they have learned just how blessed they are. For many kids like mine who don’t have to wonder if they’ll have enough to eat or if they’ll get anything for Christmas, realizing that there are children – right here in our community – who do have to ask those questions is pretty impactful.

Although I wish it were not the case, the reality is that there are literally thousands of local children in and near the Foothills region who are living in poverty. And many of them have parents who are struggling to simply put food on the table and clothes on their backs, making Christmas something that can be very challenging.

This next month, there will be many local organizations collecting holiday donations for deserving children in our community.

If you or a church or community group are ready to live out the old adage that giving really is better than receiving, I encourage you to seek one out, or visit www.IEUW.org/give/ drive.