Peace on earth for the holidays: Let it start with us helping El Paso children, seniors

Let peace on earth be in our thoughts as we kick off the holiday season, beginning today with Thanksgiving.

I know this a lofty ask, but we can all agree we need peace in our lives, even for just one moment.

We are celebrating yet another holiday season amid the COVID-19 pandemic with cases increasing in El Paso. Things are improving, but our daily lives are still too often filled with loneliness, uncertainty and chaos.

We are grateful that our U.S. military members, for the first time in a long time, are not at war during the holidays. Our challenges are here in the homeland and they are personal.

As a holiday song reminds us, let peace on earth begin with us. It can happen with a single act of kindness.

This holiday season the El Paso Times is partnering again in efforts to help others – the Senior Fund and Operation Noel.

When you purposely help others, rest assured you will feel peace in your life. That can be a starting point as we work to improving our lives in the coming year.

The Senior Fund campaign, which kicks off today, is focused on helping older El Pasoans with health and housing needs to keep them in their homes.

More: Peace on earth for the holidays: Let it start with us helping El Paso children, seniors

Yvette Lugo, director for the Rio Grande Area Agency on Aging, is one of our guiding partners. In tough times, she says, people bring peace to others by coming together.

“I continue to believe in the strength of our community,” Lugo said. “The Senior Fund is one such example. It has maintained its strength from the generosity of our community and the belief in taking care of our own.”

Operation Noel is focused on children. At its core, the holiday campaign works to make sure children it touches have at least one gift this holiday season – a new coat.

Operation Noel has been a part of the El Paso Christmas season for over 80 years. The goal is to give 20,000 children, ages toddlers to 12, in the El Paso area new coats.