In the weeks leading up to Christmas, churches, organizations, businesses and individuals work to make the holidays a little brighter for everyone.

For example, Community Meals Ministries served more than 1,200 meals in one hour on Christmas Day. More than 200 volunteers spent part of their Christmas preparing and handing out meals at Butler Global Church.

The Harrisville Borough Police Department delivered toys to 40 children in Harrisville and Marion Township in the days leading up to Christmas. There have been coat drives, food collections and bicycle giveaways.

But now that the tinsel has been taken down and people have gotten back to work, it’s important to remember it’s just as cold in January as it is in December. People are still hungry after the ball has dropped in Times Square.

Feeding America estimates 47 million people in the United States are facing food insecurity. Thirteen million of them are children. The United Way says 60% of households led by older Americans are often faced with the choice of either buying groceries or paying utility bills.

Data USA estimates nearly 8% of the population in Butler County — 15,000 out of 191,000 people — lives below the poverty line. The largest demographic living in poverty are women ages 18 to 24. Their needs don’t get put away with the mistletoe and holly.

If you’ve volunteered or donated to a worthy cause this holiday season, consider continuing your contributions into the new year.

Local resources, such as the free community meals and food pantries of the Lighthouse Foundation or St. Vincent de Paul can certainly use your help financially and physically.

Helping our neighbors should not be a seasonal thing.

— EF