As the holidays approach, the spirit of giving becomes prominent amongst the population. Many donations have been collected for Adopt An Angel, Christmas for Cubs, and Estrellita’s House.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) students were on their way to deliver gifts to the pediatric patients at Doctors Hospital Renaissance when they were stopped by a substitute teacher on their way to the bus. She asked who the gifts were for and why they were donating them and upon hearing the answer, felt the spirit of Christmas swell inside of her.

Swayed by the kindness of the FCA students, Mrs. Mendoza decided to take initiative and go buy Christmas presents from those in need. Inspired by her actions, her family members decided to follow suit and donate gifts as well.

The FCA students were able to create a domino effect. Compassion is a learned behavior so when one person displays kindness, others will follow in their footsteps.

The spirit of giving should not be reserved for the holidays, but should be showcased all throughout the year. By donating clothing, volunteering at a food bank, or even sharing a kind word, the community will become a more positive, safe place to live.