Tis' the season of giving!!

Families make arrangements to get together and enjoy food, cheer and togetherness and store windows are filled with trinkets, toys and gifts in every size, color and price range. You simply can't wait for the holidays to be here.

But there are those among us who dread the upcoming holiday season. Not because they don't look forward to participating in the holiday cheer, but because finding tomorrow's dinner is a challenge, let alone worrying about how to provide a festive holiday meal for the whole family. Purchasing shoes and clothing for their children means paying the rent and utilities late, but hoping that the landlord will be understanding so they have a place to sit down and help their children do homework. Hoping that money will come from somewhere so that there will be gifts beneath the tree when the children wake on Christmas morning, or hoping to think of a reason that is good enough to soothe a young child who wonders why Santa didn't visit.