It’s that time of year again. The decorations are safely boxed away, the stiff, brown tree gently sheds needles by the curb and the once-revered presents are strewn carelessly around the house. They’re not the only things people forget about as the new year begins: the volunteer work and charity that we once immersed ourselves in as the holiday season approached takes a backseat to other hobbies and interests.

Just because the fat, bearded guy in a red suit is no longer watching, some people stop trying to do good deeds once the holiday glow wears off.  Donations such as checks to well-known charities and presents for orphaned children in need flood in around the end of the year.  As the deadline to make the “nice list” instead of “naughty” draws nearer, people console themselves by making a last-minute attempt toward unselfish behavior despite their lack of service displayed in the earlier parts of the year. Caught up in the spirit of the holidays, everyone wants to make a mark on the community and take time to generously give to others who haven’t always been as lucky.

While dropping off a new train for poor little Tommy and a doll for Susie, they do not realize children in need deserve recognition year-round. Our Little Haven, a charity organization located near Forest Park, provides a safe environment for children recovering from abuse. At Our Little Haven, there is a noticeable increase in donations and potential volunteers who only want to work during the holiday season, Mary Crook, office manager and volunteer coordinator, said.

“It is definitely a problem,” Crook said. “In about May and June we have to go purchase things like paper products because what we get at Christmas doesn’t last.”

Even though the winter charity is highly appreciated, their needs aren’t put on hold while the year continues. Whether it’s part of the holiday do-good-spirit or a weak, quickly abandoned New Year’s resolution, people neglect their good deeds only weeks after the holiday celebrations have ceased.

Instead of seeing acts of kindness as a form of competition with others, the entire year should be treated as a holiday. Volunteering shouldn’t be an obligatory winter activity, but something done from the heart with the sole purpose of helping someone else. So as the year goes on and determination starts to fade, remember that putting a smile on someone’s face is every bit as rewarding as finding a pile of presents under the tree with your name on it.