Rather than splurging this holiday season to shower our friends and family members with gifts, consider donating money to charities that help people who have been severely impacted by COVID-19.

In light of the fact that the 2019 holiday season was the last big event before COVID-19 hit, it seems that we all are craving any sort of spirit and joy that gift-giving (and receiving) brings. It’s important we put our money where it will do the most good, which is the crux of exchanging gifts and the holidays in the first place.

There are families who cannot afford to buy their children presents, as they are too preoccupied with finding employment, putting food on the table, and staying healthy. According to the Bureau Labor of Statistics, 12.5 million Americans were unemployed in September. With the cold season approaching, the spread of the virus can only worsen, so donating to relief organizations now makes all the difference in saving lives and keeping people healthy.

Poverty isn’t a new phenomenon, but it has been exacerbated by the spread of COVID-19 and the shrinkage in job growth across the nation. Thus it is important to be charitable not just to slow the spread of the virus, but to give to our fellow human beings rather than spend hoards of money on ourselves.

Charity Navigator, Give.org, and Guidestar are all reliable websites to find a credible organization to donate to, wrote The Los Angeles Times. The charity you donate to doesn’t need to be COVID-related; helping out any cause is worthwhile and the right thing to do.

In general, the residents of Lamorinda could do a lot of good across the nation if we downsized on gift spending for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and other gift-giving holidays. Instead of buying dozens of presents, consider purchasing a few for your family and spreading the rest of your time trying to make a difference in the lives of others who are not as fortunate.