Holiday giving means a healthier community

We reap positive health benefits during the holidays when we watch what we eat and get more rest and exercise. Likewise, countless worthy charitable organizations will reap the year-round benefits of reliable and consistent financial support when we all apply a few simple principles of "healthy" holiday giving.

An excellent way to pace ourselves in giving is to participate in an employee workplace giving campaign through payroll deduction. If that is not an option, we can make a regular monthly contribution to the charity or charities of our choice.

In this day of shrinking budgets and limited grant funding, our regular exercise of giving is essential to the financial health and well-being of charitable organizations. Giving can include volunteering our time, our talents, and even providing gift in-kind services and products.

Finally, we need to make a conscious decision not to burn out when it comes to giving. The amount of our generosity may increase or decrease depending on circumstances, but we need to rest on our commitment to the principle of giving, no matter what.

Ron Chambless

The writer is Director of Campaign Services, Community Health Charities of Maryland.