Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/754812
6 Hudson Valley Parent n December 2016 Publisher TERRIE GOLDSTEIN tgoldstein@excitingread.com Editor FELICIA HODGES fhodges@excitingread.com Executive Assistant to the Publisher BRITTANY L. MORGAN bmorgan@excitingread.com Media Advisors CHRISTY OLIVIER colivier@excitingread.com VERONICA INGRAMHENRY vingramhenry@excitingread.com MATTHEW SILVERMAN msilverman@excitingread.com Community Liaison PAMELA PERRY pperry@excitingread.com Traf f ic Manager PAM SOSCIA psoscia@excitingread.com Intern MADISON BECKMAN Layout & Design ENGLE PRINTING also publishers of MY TripPlanner.com family MY TripPlanner.com family Hudson Valley Parent is published monthly by: The Professional Image Marketing & Public Relations Inc. 174 South Street • Newburgh, NY 12550 Phone: 845-562-3606 • Fax: 845-562-3681 hvparent.com This publication is copyrighted by the publisher. Reproduction without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Hudson Valley Parent welcomes submissions, although we cannot accept responsibility for work submitted nor guarantee publication. I absolutely love this time of year - except for the snow and cold weather that we haven't gotten much of yet but may soon cometh. Still, I must admit that hearing Christmas carols in the area stores since the day after Hal- loween has almost driven me mad. It seems like the push to have the gift giv- ing begin already almost cheapens the festivity. It sometimes makes me forget that there is more to the season than finding the perfect gift. Sometimes though, life has a funny way of bringing that all back to sharp focus. On my way to the gym recently, I saw a young man - maybe a year or two older than my own son - sitting near the traffic light with a "Home- less - please help if you can" sign. He had no gloves and was literally shaking from the cold. And trust me, it was cold here that night. I only had a dollar in cash on me, which I gave him, but I had already made up my mind I was coming back before he even thanked me. I went home, found a pair of gloves and a scarf stuffed in the closet from a few winters back and a blanket we'd gotten years ago as a com- memorative prize but never used and brought them back to the traffic light. The young man was so appre- ciative. While we were talking, a woman drove up, handed him a bag and a $5 bill. He thanked her and told her to drive safely. As she drove away, he looked in the bag and almost cried when he saw what was in it. "I can't believe she brought me SOCKS!" he said as he slipped off his boots and put them on over the little ankle ones he had on. It was humbling to watch a young man who had just told me he had no idea where he was going to be sleeping that night get so excited over a new pair of long socks. He told me how he happened to be without roof overhead. His story was a simple one and could easily happen to anyone. One day he had a place to live and the next day he didn't - it really was just that simple. What he said he misses most about not having a place to call his own was being able to take a hot shower and having a place in which to store food. "You have no idea how much I miss having a fridge," he told me. I saw that young man's face - especially how cold it looked when I first noticed him and how incredibly happy a small display of kindness from a passing stranger with socks made it - all night. The reality is that no matter his circumstances, he is still somebody's son and friend and used to be someone's neighbor. The reality we too often forget is that he's someBODY. If my own son or any of my neighbors, classmates or friends ever needs a helping hand from a stranger, I hope they get it, I really do. You don't have to have a lot to be nice to someone. Kindness costs nothing but time and effort. This holiday season, I'm going to try to spend as much of it as I can. The gift of caring FELICIA HODGES Editor's Journal