Black Friday

(This column first appeared in print November 28, 2006)

Thanksgiving came and went this year, more like a bridge from Halloween to Christmas, than a serious holiday in its own right. I attribute the gross under-commercialization of Thanksgiving to the fact that the holiday itself is more about food than generosity. Nowadays Thanksgiving gives many folks a long weekend and an excuse to go shopping on “Black Friday.” Thankfulness shows up more on classroom activity sheets than as an annual exercise around the dining room table.

Indeed, Thanksgiving’s relative marketing obscurity, locked as it is between Halloween and Christmas, keeps most commercial exploits to foodstuffs. But it’s wrecked by the power of Black Friday. This year, according to estimates from the National Retail Federation, “140 million shoppers hit the stores on Black Friday, spending an average of $360.15, up 18.9 percent from last year’s $302.81.” Consumers are expected to spend $457.4 billion this holiday season, more than double the amount spent for holiday shopping in 2003 ($217 billion). While that certainly blows away Halloween expenditure, just $5 billion, its important to note that the NRF does not track or project Thanksgiving spending at all, it just lumps it in with all “holiday” spending.

Black Friday, that holy grail of the retail industry, was so coined because retailers previously operating “in the red” finally break into profitability from the healthy shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Black Friday, and all its goody anticipation, helps us forget traditional values of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last year, while Americans spent $438.6 billion on holiday gifts and decorations, only $125 billion was given to charities in the same period.

Yes, this year I braved the gridlock and hit a few stores and outlets on Black Friday. I even spent some money too. But I want my children to practice those old fashioned values of Thanksgiving and Christmas seemingly lost in the hustle and bustle known as holiday shopping. You know the ones I’m speaking of: counting their blessings (even when it seems there are few), thinking first of others before themselves, its better to give than receive, the Christmas spirit, and so on. That lesson holds more value than myriad gifts under the tree.

Today there are many ways to mark the holiday and find special gifts to give that give something back. I’ve found a few and present them here in hopes that Tewksbury residents may find an inspiring way to spend a few hours with family and friends making the most of their holiday.

Purchasing and Packing care packages for soldiers in Iraq. Jim Williams, Veteran’s Agent for Tewksbury, Elisabeth Desmaris of the Tewksbury Public Library and many others are collecting and packing boxes donated from the Postal Service full of items our soldiers need. Volunteers meet at the Disabled American Veteran’s hall at 180 Pond Street at 7:30 next Tuesday to pack boxes full of donated items. If you would like to shop for items on the wish list, drop off points are located all over town (see our information box on page X). Donations are also needed for shipping expenses as each box costs about $8-10.
Donating a gift through the Heifer Project. Heifer International gives animals and trees to people all over the world, enabling needy families to work their way out of poverty through farming. A gift of chicks, for example, costs only $20 but gives a family food from eggs, income from the sale of eggs and chickens, and in one case, provided enough money for a man in the West African nation of Ghana to open a school for 70 children and feed them all one meal every day. A wonderful gift for relatives, teachers and colleagues, this program lifts people out of poverty one animal at a time. Check it out at Heifer.org.
Bid on an auction item from The Home for Little Wanderers. The Home, based in Boston, is a nationally renowned, private, non-profit child and family service agency. Currently offering an online auction featuring, among other things, 30 books signed by their celebrity authors, James Taylor’s autographed guitar, sports memorabilia, and many more gifts and goodies. It’s a wonderful way to find a unique gift that also champions an important cause, the welfare of families and children. See all the auction items and find other ways to contribute at TheHome.org.
Give the gift of your time at Boston Cares. With hundreds of volunteer opportunities every month, this organization makes it easy to get involved in communities in the greater Boston area. Families should try the BOOYAH! (Boston Young Active Hands), which offers fun family opportunities such as working in the toy room at the Home for Little Wanderers, sorting food at the Greater Boston Food Bank, and specials projects just for teens with the Teen Action Academy. Time and caring can make an extraordinary difference. BostonCares.org.
Sponsor a Needy Family for Christmas Gifts through the Magic of Christmas program from the Lowell Wish Project. Take your kids shopping for gifts for another family and show them how good it feels to fulfill the needs of others. The Lowell Wish Project keeps a list of “urgent wishes” for seasonally appropriate items, furniture, and other household goods for families. Everything from cribs, pots and pans, beds, winter clothes and jackets, to winter maternity clothes, double strollers and safety gates are needed. LowellWishProject.org.
Check out local schools and the Community Pantry: Many of the schools in Tewksbury are drop-off locations for Coats-for-Kids and Toys-for-Tots. The Community Pantry serves Tewksbury residents directly for short and long term food supplies. Accepting donations from monetary, food and toiletries, to volunteers, the Pantry appreciates all kinds of help. The Pantry’s website may be found through the town’s website at Tewksbury.info.

These are but a few of the many and varied opportunities to give. Ask your children for ideas. Find out from your employer about matching programs. You may find a new tradition that lasts all year long.