The Christmas season is upon us. As an island, we enjoy the festive lights adorning buildings in Hamilton and the magical feeling of King’s Square in St George; we admire the holiday spirit of those who spread Yuletide joy with decorated homes.

The spirit of giving is also heightened during this season. While retail stores and shipping companies are energised by gift buying, many churches honour the true reason for the season with cantatas, nativity scenes and special Christmas services.

It should give us a community, a renewed appreciation for the miracle of Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ.

With the dazzling Christmas lights, joy and cheer, it is easy to miss that there are people in need.

The holiday brings many families together for big meals, gift giving and quality time but there are people who will not experience it in that way.

Amid the joy, love, goodwill and cheer there is increased stress, financial strain and sadness for many.

Fortunately there are organisations, churches, charities and individuals who are sensitive to this aspect of the holiday season and go above and beyond to provide a place where people can experience family, community, groceries and a Christmas dinner.

Below are a few of them:

The Eliza DoLittle Society is offering food hampers and bags of groceries to meet specific family needs. People have until December 23 to take advantage of the charity’s food pantry. According to Clare Mello-Robinson, the executive director, the Society will then close until January 2.

Registration information is available at theelizadolittlesociety.bm

The New Testament Church of God Healing Centre provides another opportunity to stock the pantry for the holiday season. The community outreach will take place tomorrow at Warren Simmons Field in Sandys beginning at noon, and last until all food hampers have been given away. Sophia Thomas, a New Testament Church of God Healing Centre member, said: “We are giving out soup and rolls. We give out free food. We collect all the items and go to the wholesale stores and on that day, we have the bags already bagged out and give out one bag per person.

“This is the fourth year we are doing this initiative; instead of attending church this Sunday, serving the community is church.”

Their inspiration comes from Matthew 25:35-40 which reads: “Just as you do this unto the best of them, you are doing this unto Me.”

Food insecurity is not isolated to the holiday season. As the cost of groceries and utilities continue to rise many families have to make hard decisions about where to prioritise their income.

The Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity serves boxed lunches every Monday through Friday throughout the year, from 12pm until 1pm.

“I feel it is one of several necessary community services,” said Susannah Frith of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity. “There are so many people who are short of money and unable to feed themselves and their families. Combined with the crazy price of food these days, we are seeing more need for services like this. We are just one of many, and there probably still are not enough.”

On Christmas Day both the Seventh-day Adventist Church and St Paul's Anglican Church will provide community members in need with the opportunity for a sit-down, hot meal experience.

Dora Baker, head of the Adventist Community Services, said that a meal will be offered in the Youth Centre of the Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church from 12pm until 4pm.

“We have to give back, that gives so much to us. We believe that this is the best way to give back to our community,” she said. “Because we are Christians, we have a mandate from our Lord and Saviour to care for our brothers and sisters who may be in need.”

Meanwhile St Paul’s annual Christmas luncheon will take place between 12pm and 2pm. The church offers transportation to anyone in need with pick-up stops in Hamilton at the Flagpole, City Hall and the bus stop by “the pink church on Church Street”. Anyone interested in joining the lunch should be at their stop no later than 11.30am.

The Salvation Army and its multiple divisions provide year-round food services and holiday-specific initiatives. Registration for holiday hampers began in November with collection on Friday and Monday. The organisation also offers hot meals from its 10 North Street, Hamilton location five nights a week, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. According to Major Cathy Simms, the Harbour Light also facilitates a Christmas dinner. For information on the variety of ways the Salvation Army visit www.salvationarmy.bm.

For many in need, such services help combat the difficult times they face year round.

For people interested in volunteering, there is the Directory of Helping Services: www.helpingservices.bm. It provides a list of organisations and contact details for initiatives that benefit the community.