Support your local Food Bank

Many of the faiths have tenants for their followers to help those less fortunate than themselves. So if you are a religious person, or a non-believer with strong morals perhaps you should consider helping the food bank this year, as part of your celebrations.

Buddhists  believe that there are many things which a person can give. She can give material things: food for the hungry, and money and clothes to the poor. He can also give his knowledge, skill, time, energy or effort to projects that can benefit others. She can provide a sympathetic ear and good counsel to a friend in trouble.  Buddhism views charity as an act to reduce personal greed which is an unwholesome mental state which hinders spiritual progress. A person who is on his way to spiritual growth must try to reduce his own selfishness and her strong desire for acquiring more and more. He should reduce his strong attachment to possessions which, if she is not mindful, can enslave her to greed. What he owns or has should instead be used for the benefit and happiness of others: his loved ones as well as those who need her help.

In the Christian faith, some of the words that prescribe how practitioners can help the needy are:

In the Hindu religion the Artha Shastras, one of the Hindu scriptures written in 300 BCE by a wise man called Kautilya, gives advice for householders. It says that they should always be generous and hospitable to guests, and no guest should ever be turned away without food. Tradition says that a place at the table should always be left for Atithi (the unexpected guest).

One may amass wealth with hundreds of hands but one should also distribute it with thousands of hands. If someone keeps all that he accumulates for himself and does not give it to others the hoarded wealth will eventually prove to be the cause of ruin. Atharva Veda 3: 24-25

In the Muslim faith there are many words that prescribe help to the needy, here are some:

Lo! those who believe and do good works and establish worship and pay the poor-due, their reward is with their Lord and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve. (2:277)

So give to the kindred his due, and to Al-Miskin (the poor) and to the wayfarer. That is best for those who seek Allah's Countenance, and it is they who will be successful. (30:38)