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I'll be working this Christmas. My job? Santa Claus! White beard and red clothes are optional. I'll be joining thousands of volunteers in Britain who go and help homeless and elderly people as well as poor children.
Solidarity comes to life at this time of the year. It's cold and many people feel lonely. I'll be there for them. I was inspired by a woman in Scotland - Beatrice Cadell has just celebrated her 80th birthday and instead of presents for her, she asked her friends to buy toys. They'll be donated to a toy bank - free toys for children whose parents can't afford to buy them any.
Cadell said: "Everyone that turned up to my birthday do was absolutely brilliant! Somebody else can benefit. We don't need it. We're old."
There are plenty of places which welcome a helping hand at Christmas. The charity Crisis at Christmas, for example, has been looking for more than 10,000 volunteers to assist guests in their centres for homeless people. Volunteers with specialist skills like dentists, hairdressers, lorry drivers and performers are particularly welcome.
Another organisation, Community Christmas, is keen on volunteers who wish to offer companionship to lonely, elderly people on Christmas Day – it can be over a full lunch or just a cup of tea. They have a website with a location page so that good Samaritans can register their interest in helping out and find out more.
Scrooge is a character very much associated with this time of year. He's the central figure in A Christmas Carol, a classic by the English writer Charles Dickens. Scrooge is a selfish man who only helps himself. In the world of volunteering, there's no Scrooge in sight. We're all proud and happy Santas. Merry Christmas!
词汇表
Santa Claus 圣诞老人
volunteer 志愿者
homeless 无家可归的
solidarity 团结一致
to be there for someone 在（某人）身边（提供帮助或支持）
to donate 捐献
do (noun) 聚会
to benefit 受益
a helping hand 援助之手
charity 慈善
to assist 协助
companionship 陪伴，友谊
good Samaritans 好心人，乐善好施的人
Scrooge (as an adjective) 吝啬鬼，守财奴
volunteering 志愿活动