A new Christmas tradition

Don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against Black Friday, or Small Business Saturday or Cyber Monday.

Those quasi-official, shopping-extravaganza days are great sport for some, and give our merchants a much-needed shot in the arm.

The fact that you're more likely to find me celebrating Oh Crap Saturday as I scramble to finish my shopping on Christmas Eve this year is more a matter of disorganization than any kind of protest.

Still, in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I do wish we could have a day or two honoring something other than the almighty advertising circular.

Lots of families have traditions of giving back at this time of year - they donate coats and mittens, buy Toys for Tots, serve up hot meals at the local free lunch.

Why not put that on our national list of holiday things to do? Call it Do-good Tuesday, or Philanthropic Wednesday - call it whatever you like.

My own parents spend a few hours each Christmas Eve ringing the bell for Salvation Army at their neighborhood grocery store. Once or twice, I've been able to join them in waylaying shoppers who have braved the cold to grab last-minute items before nestling back at their own warm hearths.

I've never met a humbug there - it's all smiles and “Merry Christmas,” all dollars and spare change. There's no better way to get in the Christmas spirit.

Same thing happened this week when I helped out at the KCRG-TV9/Salvation Army of Cedar Rapids' Breakfast With Santa. They hosted 150 area preschoolers with the Cedar Rapids Early Learning Preschool program this year.

The kids made crafts and played games, sang carols, met Santa and ate a hot breakfast, and were sent off just before lunchtime with a bag full of presents - books, stuffed animals and KCRG T-shirts for each.

But I think we got the best gifts - all we volunteers who led musical chairs, directed traffic and wiped 3,000 sticky fingers.

We emerged from the church with more than renewed respect for preschool teachers' magical ability to keep a dozen 3- and 4-year-olds pointed in the same direction at the same time, more or less.

We left basking in the good feeling of knowing that 150 little Cedar Rapidians headed out the door a little happier, a little fuller, just because we'd all pitched in.

And when I think of the money I saved compared to those folks chasing doorbusters and

50 percent off ... .

All the Christmas spirit I could carry, and it didn't cost a thing.

Comments: (319) 339-3154; jennifer.hemmingsen@sourcemedia.net