Yes, Christmas is a little more than two weeks away and the planning is on in earnest.

As families plan their celebrations – be they an acknowledgement of the birth of Christ or a secular gathering of loved ones – there is a huge emphasis on making the festive season special.

For families with children, there is the pressure of having Santa Claus pull off a cracker of a Christmas, while others feel the need to create an elaborate feast to be enjoyed by guests.

But for many in our community, this kind of Christmas is simply beyond their reach. 

Getting the bills paid and some food in the fridge is a huge battle for too many people in our city, who have little chance of enjoying a few glasses of festive bubbly and a seafood feast.

Thankfully, there are a great many people who are willing to help others.

Wagga’s charity organisations have been working flat out to collect food and gifts in a bid to make Christmas a little less bleak for people doing it tough.

There are appeals for food and toys and a constant need for cash to help not only at Christmas, but in January when the charity cupboards have been stripped, but the demand on services is ongoing.

We all know that Christmas can be an expensive time of the year, but perhaps we could go without something from our table or under the tree and help charities make a difference to the lives of others?

Every year, we hear stories of children who wouldn’t have a gift for Christmas without the generosity of Wagga people who lend a hand.

Although Christmas is getting closer, there is still time to help out by donating a toy or some food items to one of the city’s charities.

Christmas is labelled a lot of things, but surely the most magical part of the season remains the “goodwill to all” and the chance to do something kind for a fellow human being?