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It doesn't take much effort in our region to find the meaning of Christmas.
We can see the Christmas spirit in the hard work of students at Jackson Primary School. As the Sun-Gazette reported in Wednesday's edition, Jackson's students collected more than a 1,000 can for a food drive to benefit the Salvation Army.
"You can just feel the energy and see the energy among these kids and their love of giving this holiday season, which I think is a great thing to inspire the entire community," Laura Templeton, public relations and resource development director for the Williamsport Salvation Army said. "They take such joy and delight in it."
We can see the Christmas spirit in the tireless efforts of Michelle, Joe and Mariah Vanglider, residents of DuBoistown's Candy Cane Lane, who set up a mailbox to help Santa Claus answer children's letters during the holiday season. Each letter from a child, as reported in the Dec. 7 edition of the Sun-Gazette, received a personalized letter back.
We can see the Christmas spirit within the Williamsport Bureau of Police and their annual "shop with a cop" program, featured in the Dec. 11 edition, in which officers take youngsters Christmas shopping. And we can see the Christmas spirit in the conscientiousness of Meagan Murray, who as a high school student saved money from her allowance to buy gifts for children in need and has diligently spent 25 years turning that effort into Meagan's Box, which, as reported in the Dec. 15 edition, will provide about 2,300 gifts to children this Christmas.
We can see the Christmas spirit all year, in the vital community services provided by the American Rescue Workers, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity and so many other valued community organizations.
We hope this Christmas, we all can find inspiration in their thoughtfulness and compassion for their -- and our -- neighbors. Because that is the Christmas spirit.