As the holiday season approaches, the spirit of giving back becomes more important than ever. This Christmas, there are a wide variety of initiatives that promote small acts of kindness, and their ripple effect of joy and happiness greatly impacts the community. Giving back not only spreads cheer to those in need during the Christmas time, but it also significantly boosts your mood. When you help someone, your brain releases dopamine and serotonin, the feel-good chemicals. People who volunteer can experience lower blood pressure and get the chance to meet new people, providing them with a feeling of purpose.
One way to give back this season is through the Sassy Massey organization. The foundation was started by Janelle Massey, the mother of a girl who died of brain cancer on Dec. 4, 2017, at the young age of five years old. Jillian put in her efforts to help start the organization in 2016 by assisting with the toy drive for CHOP, ensuring that all her friends there would have toys over the holidays, and personally delivering 3,000 toys. Jillian’s wish for all kids to have toys over the holidays has been spreading, carrying on after her death when her parents founded the Sassy Massey Foundation.
Kristen Rice, a woman who provides assistance to help benefit the foundation, met the Massey family when they ended up in her Target line. She believed that this family was “going through the worst thing possible.” Rice and Massey were both passionate about providing as much as they could for the community. “We were going to give back big one day,” Rice stated, and they did. The Sassy Massey organization has been running for nine years and continues to house countless opportunities to raise money for Target runs. Rice said that at these Target runs, they pick out the toys that go to the hospital, ending up with “carts and carts of joy that leave everyone happy.” These toys go to hospitals in many different states, spanning from Pennsylvania to Delaware, and are being delivered to thousands of children. When asked about why she was personally invested, Rice said, “If I can’t have Jillian with me on Earth, this is the closest thing.”
At Pennridge High School, the German Club has been making holiday ornaments that go to Grandview Hospital. In times like these, many people need a support system, especially those in the hospital, and whether this is accomplished by simply talking to someone or getting them a gift, the German Club takes time out of their day to change someone’s entire week. Pennridge High School senior Hannah Sabbath told us how German is incorporated into the gifts, explaining that “The language is implemented because it’s in German club, but I think the coolest thing is that there were different levels of fluency in the room. It was really cool taking students who are just starting to learn the language and being able to help some of them learn how to respond in German.” Both middle school and high school students have utilized their time to provide for a good cause, making simple and creative decorations that are possible for anyone to create.
Often, during times of the holiday season, it is hard not to think about what you have to get done, but it is important to remember that offering help or happiness to others is just as meaningful. Sassy Massey and the German Club are just a few examples of organizations that you can participate in. Through these opportunities, you can get in touch with the true meaning of the holiday season: giving back to your community and others.
