Sana Thakkar Week 7: "Be an Elf"

    



    November 1st always initiates the holiday season, characterized by the warmth and comfort of hot chocolate, Christmas pajamas, and familial bonds, along with the euphoria of Black Friday shopping, opening presents, and going ice skating. The Christmas spirit encapsulates the joyful memories from preceding months  in order to greet the new year with felicitations. 

    However, not everyone shares this spirited experience. In 2021, 910,000 workers in America earned below the federal minimum, with poverty rates being at an all time high. Many hard-working American families are forced to live paycheck to paycheck, being unable to afford any luxuries, especially during the holidays. Thousands of children are denied the excitement of writing letters to Santa and opening presents underneath their tree. Growing up I did not realize the privilege I had to be able to wake up and dash downstairs to see an eaten plate of cookies with the toy kitchen I had always wanted. It is moments like this, which may seem unimportant, but in truth carry deep value in shaping a child's adolescent years, and giving them much deserved memories . 

    Luckily, the word Christmas is associated with magic which you can bring into the lives of impoverished children through programs such as "Be an Elf", an organization where volunteers can "adopt a family" and help complete their Santa wish list. Additionally, "One Simple Wish" allows users to browse Christmas wishes and donate accordingly to people in need. 

    It is critical this Christmas to embrace the Christmas spirit by help someone combat the unfairness of the American economic system that enables hundreds of thousands of workers to make below living costs. "Be the Elf" in someone else's life through "One Simple Wish."


Be an Elf

Minimum wage worker statistics

One Simple Wish

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Comments

  1. Aishwarya GogiNovember 24, 2023 at 3:56 PM


    Hi Sana! I really enjoy how your post mimics an advertisement but also brings a call to action for readers to help the less fortunate children during the holiday season. The start of a tone of happiness to a tone of grief made me feel immediately sad and an urge to help address the economic inequalities for people who face poverty. Although the beginning of your post reminded me of a nostalgic memory of Christmas and the comforting feel of sipping a cup of hot chocolate, the sudden contrast to the people who do not enjoy these experiences made me feel distressed. It made me think about the other families who do not get to spend an enjoyable time during the holidays or experience the moments of warmth and comfort. I would definitely recommend including your experience with helping the lives of impoverished children through programs like “Be an Elf”.

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  2. Aarya PatilNovember 26, 2023 at 11:28 AM

    Hi Sana! Your reflection on the joy of Christmas time and the issues experienced by many families is thought-provoking. I think you perfectly captured the essence of the holiday spirit while also describing the harsh reality that many of us don’t realize, which is that many hard-working American families struggle to make ends meet during this time. I found that your personal realization of the privilege of experiencing Christmas mornings is a powerful reminder of the supposed small moments in shaping a child’s memories. I think the use of statistics enhanced the argument you were making and supported your points with strong evidence. I really like how you highlighted organizations such as “Be an Elf” and “One Simple Wish” which provide ways for people to make a difference in the lives of those who need help. This call to action embraces the Christmas spirit, and the joy in giving. Your blog reminded me of the true essence of the holidays, which is empathy and kindness towards others. It is easy to forget the privileges we have, and how there are others in need of help, which is why it’s important to be thankful for what we have. I really liked the play on words in the concluding sentence, where you encouraged us to be the “Elf” in someone else’s life this Christmas. Great job!

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  3. Muhammed AliNovember 29, 2023 at 7:10 PM

    Hi Sana! I really like how you painted the initial image of the winter season to then shift into the real topic of the blog which is the fact that many families in America can't enjoy the holidays like many of us. It's an important reminder that we should be grateful for what we have and the situations we live in, and I feel that you did an excellent job conveying that. It makes me happy that there are organizations like "Be an Elf" and "One Simple Wish," but it would be great if they received more publicity so that they could encourage more people to join in and help. Until I read this blog, I had never heard of those organizations, leading me to believe that many others who would be willing and able to help haven't actually been given the chance to. Your blog helps in the process of raising awareness, and I think that's awesome. Great job!

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