Two days ago, when I stepped out of my residence to grab some dinner, I saw the first signs of the Christmas season, with the lights on the trees and the green and red wreaths going up. And that's when I realised that this is going to be my first Christmas away from home. For all those like me, who aren’t spending the holidays with their family, and especially those of us who are experiencing this for the first time, this can be a bit of a rough season. If you are anything like me, you will love seeing the Christmas decorations going up and it will absolutely warm your heart to see the festive season coming to life.
Since this is my first Christmas in Toronto, I would really love to explore the city and hopefully give back in a positive way to society. There are several ways in which you can get involved and make this season a memorable one for you. For all the St Mike’s students, SMC is hosting a Christmas drive where you can donate slightly used clothes, gifts, non-perishable food etc to those in need. Students from other colleges are free to donate as well. The Centre for Community Partnerships is a great place to find community-based opportunities around the Greater Toronto Area.
If you're looking for ways to get involved in the city during the holiday season- here are a few good options- Holiday Helpers provides Christmas packages to low-income families, The Salvation Army helps with food hampers and arranging gifts for children. Yonge Street Mission- there's definitely no shortage of people willing to help out at this spot, but you can help with a shift by signing up through the Mission's Christmas Volunteer Hub.
The holidays can also be a tough time for some, especially those away from home and I would like to remind them of the mental health resources that are always available to them. Seasonal mental health issues are not uncommon and if you think you need help or if you think someone you know needs help, please redirect yourselves to the following resources-
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