I'm the first Community Editor for The Sacramento Press, but my full time work is in the social services. I have the sometimes heartbreaking opportunity to learn the intimate details of people's lives- particularly their financial lives. Did you know there are people living in Sacramento who are not at all equipped to weather any hardship? For example, I routinely help people who have an income of $800 a month, and their rent is $500. And they just had a joint replaced at 73 years old. Or they need an anti-biotic that is not covered by Medi-Cal. So they can't pay SMUD this month. And then next month SMUD's $40 instead of $20, and with last month's problems and getting behind....and you could see how this chain of events could lead to disaster with such a small margin of income.

Some of my clients are never going to be able to increase their income because of genuine disability or age. It's also not uncommon for me to help someone who teeters on the edge of homelessness- an injury puts them out of work, which was a part time or a contract job to begin with, and now they're hurt and don't have disability pay and can't really get another job in their current state of health.....you get the picture.

If you are not as bad off as what I've described, maybe you would want to give back to the community- financially. Volunteer hours are great, but consider donating gifts through a giving tree, donating money to an organization where the money would directly benefit those in need, or donating food to a family in need (this can be done through the Food Bank or Wellspring.) And remember, there's a need year-round, not just at the holidays.