The sentence can be finshed in many ways and for most of us, it's a way to spend a festive time together as a family. It usually is closely followed by a warm and bountiful meal and filled with eager anticipation of gift-giving. But for some families in Toronto, this is a dream or just a memory. One of the most important things about the holiday season is that it is a time for generosity. It is embedded in many of our traditions. For my family's Christmas (Wigilia), it is in the Polish tradition to set up an extra plate at the table for an "unexpected guest". This celebrates the ideas of hospitality and inclusion. We must remember how blessed we are for some of the simple things we have in our lives and to give to those that aren't so blessed. Giving can come in many different forms: perishable food items, clothing, toys, volunteering time and monetary donations. 

The City of Toronto has a great resource for community agencies that are looking for volunteers this holiday season. The site also includes a map of all the adjacent services to make it easier for people to find an agency in their community. You can also donate online to many agencies this year. Covenant House's street kid gift catalogue provides options to make donations for food, shelter and life skills. The Daily Bread Food Bank offers opportunities for volunteers and donations in their Holiday Drive. If you are looking for national and worldwide donation opportunities: UNICEF Canada, World Vision, Canadian Feed the Children, Breakfast for Learning, and Canadian Red Cross have many options to donate for basic necessities, better living and medical care. Additionally, the Toronto Public Library Foundation has a holiday campaign of "Give in Honour or Memory" as a way to give a gift to someone special.There are many choices in making a difference this holiday season; find some time and a cause that inspires you. 

If you are looking to travel this winter break, a great opportunity is giving back while you are away. 

Sometimes it just takes a small idea to spark a big global awareness. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was a massive success that spread across cities, countries and continents raising $115 million dollars! Movember was a great success again this year raising $18 million dollars! With a little social media trending, campaigns such as #nomakeupselfie and #christmascarolchallenge can move the world for a good cause.