As Christmas nears, the ringing of bells from parking lots and entrances of stores begins to grow. Many noble causes can be supported, but there is never enough spare change to go around. If only this was due to continuous charity year-round, but sadly it is not.

It is a sad truth that we all avoid and are all guilty of, only being charitable during the holiday season. Opportunities abound year round, but it seems we always have to go out of our way to help these charities. We would not want to send 25 cents a month to the starved children in Africa because that 25 cents a month will eventually add up to food for me in one of my all to often “starving” states.

All year the depressing commercials about the abused and forgotten animals play, but the message is never fully conveyed. We all change the channel because they are too depressing, and you don’t want your friends to see you tearing up, which I undoubtedly do every time. Even if you are brave enough to last through the commercials, you do not pay attention to the charity’s information because you are too busy trying to find the tissues.

The Christmas season makes the opportunities to give easier, but it’s sad that it takes a person ringing a bell standing out in the cold to get our attention. Every time I go in and out of a store I give a little bit, and it pains me that not everyone does the same.