Jana Oliver sent this message for us and our readers.

It's that time of year. Again. But this year is different because of that sucking sound. Economy sucks. New jobless claims suck. Real estate prices suck. You get the picture. Not all of us are in deep trouble (fortunately) and so this is aimed at you who are keeping your heads above the waterline. Now is the time to share your good fortune. It can be as simple as leaving a gift card tucked in someone's mailbox to fund a trip to the grocery store. Think the recipient will be embarrassed? Then leave it anonymously. Consider donating to a homeless shelter or food bank in your area. Many of the homeless are those who had a house and a job at the start of the year. Now they have nothing.

If you're in the Atlanta area consider the Atlanta Community Food Bank www.acfb.org or the Norcross Cooperative Ministry www.norcrossco-op.org/

(a non-denominational outreach program.) To help our four-footed friends whose owners are foundering on the rocks, consider a donation to Daffy's Pet Soup http://www.daffyspetsoupkitchen.com.

If you're outside of Georgia, just do a quick Google search to find your local charities. Whether you donate time, money or canned goods, it's a blessing. And this year we need all the blessings we can offer. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, a Blessed Yule and a Joyous Kwanzaa. > -- Jana Oliver www.janaoliver.com http://www.janaoliver.com

6 comments

  1. Mary Marvella // December 25, 2008 at 2:34 PM  

    If you're reading this and notice the glitch, please forgive me. Jana didn't do this. I'll fix it later this afternoon. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

  2. Scarlet Pumpernickel // December 25, 2008 at 3:35 PM  

    Mary!!!!!
    Bad Mary! Having fun? Merry Christmas! Love to Danielle and the grand-dogs!

    Scarlet

  3. Jana Oliver // December 25, 2008 at 6:10 PM  

    A Glitch! Better than a Grinch...

  4. Mary Marvella // December 25, 2008 at 9:51 PM  

    I didn't do too badly for a technically challenged person. I don't know how I told it to put those lines where they didn't belong!

    Yep, Danielle and my Son-in-law were as sweet as usual. A girl my daughter knew in high school and 4-H came by and brought homemade gumbo. I enjoyed watching the "girls" taking about times and looking at old photos.

  5. Nightingale // December 26, 2008 at 11:11 AM  

    Thanks for joining us with a Christmas message, Jana!

  6. Mary Ricksen // December 26, 2008 at 2:25 PM  

    Jana's words ring so true. Whenever I feel sorry for myself, I think of a friend who is dying of brain cancer. Then I feel guilty for feeling sorry for myself. That usually stops it. A good attitude and a little help to someone less fortunate than you are. Makes you feel so good about yourself!