Nose for News, By Sarah Stultz

The family gatherings have passed, the presents have been exchanged and another Christmas Day is behind us.

Speaking for myself, it has been a great season full of gratitude and a feeling of giving.

I have enjoyed watching others give, too, this season, whether it has been individuals who have donated their time or funds to organizations that help others, or businesses who have gone out of their way to collect toys or money for those in need.

I attended the Albert Lea Salvation Army’s toy distribution on Thursday for a brief period and was thrilled to see the number of toys donated for the children of our community. Organizers said toy donations were up this year and have continued to come in still in the days since.

Volunteers were eager to help others shop for toys for their children.

I have heard stories about groups caroling to the elderly at some of our senior living facilities, and others who were seeking out service projects where they could teach their children about the value of giving to others.

There have been food drives, and others who have donated their time ringing bells — some even as much as 12 hours at a time — to raise money for people in need.

Even our own mail carrier dressed up as Santa Claus this year, spreading good cheer to others, and stopped at the Tribune last week with his wife to bring us a tray of treats.

The giving, I believe, is contagious. The more I see others give, the more I want to give as well.

It has me thinking about new traditions to start with my own family during the Christmas season.

The good deeds don’t require much — in fact, they don’t even have to involve money. Time, in many cases, is a rewarding gift.

But why does the giving have to stop there?

The giving and the good feelings that come along with this time of year can continue all year.

It’s not only at Christmas time that we have people in need in our community, and it’s not only at this time of year that people could benefit from receiving a surprise plate of cookies or a thoughtful card in the mail.

I am making it one of my goals for the new year to continue to spread this Christmas spirit all year.

Think of how much better our community would be and how much happier our own lives would be even if we gave just a little bit more of ourselves in the coming year.

Often we find that we, as the givers, can get more out of doing something nice than the receiver.

How can you keep the feeling of giving going year-round?

Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Tribune. Her column appears every Tuesday.