Mary Henkel Judson is editor and copublisher of the South Jetty. Contact her at southjetty@centurytel.net, (361) 749-5131 or P.O. Box 1117, Port Aransas, TX 78373. Who doesn’t appreciate a good deal, whether it’s for a car, an appliance, a boat or the sweetest fishing rod you’ve ever seen?

If you’re all about getting the best bang for your buck, allow me to direct you to two opportunities in Port Aransas that give you back more than you give.

The VFW’s Care and Share Drive collects nonperishable food and cash to purchase turkeys and hams for families in Port Aransas who, without the drive, would not have a Christmas dinner.

The food and cash donated to this drive go directly to these families. No administrative costs are diverted from the primary focus – families in need.

The VFW shares any excess funds with overseas soldiers as well as another totally Port Aransas drive – the Emergency Services Toy Roundup.

The Toy Roundup works the same way as the Care and Share Drive. Police, firefighters and the EMS collect toys and cash to buy wrapping paper, tape and ribbon so children of parents unable to provide Christmas presents can do so.

No “cost of doing business” funds are diverted from the cause. No one gets paid to collect or deliver.

One hundred percent of the contributions to both of these drives goes to less fortunate families in our community – hardworking folks who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to provide the “trimmings” to make Christmas merry and bright.

It’s a tough year for a lot of folks, but “tough” is relative.

One less trip? Put off buying that new car?

Those are not decisions the recipients of the Care and Share and Toy Roundup drives have the luxury of making.

They are deciding between medicine and food, finding a way to buy new shoes for a growing child, stretching a meal that serves two so that it feeds four.

The origin of these situations is not the focus here. It doesn’t matter. The kids, who are not responsible for putting food on the table, clothes on their backs, much less Christmas presents or a Christmas dinner, are what it’s all about.

Every kid deserves to wake up to a brightly wrapped package with a wonderful surprise inside on Christmas morning. Those kids also deserve a special Christmas dinner on that special day.

While others are getting “more” on Christmas Day – more toys, more clothes, more jewelry – and knowing the day will include a special feast -- the kids who are recipients of the generosity of Care and Share and Toy Roundup are barely getting the basics – and some aren’t getting even that.

Every little bit helps both of these drives. Quarters count. A package of gum makes a great stocking stuffer.

Even if you don’t have much to share, your generosity, with the generosity of others, combines to make a big difference in the lives of the less fortunate in Port Aransas.

Want a good deal?

Give to Care and Share and Toy Roundup.

You’ll get back so much more than you give: You’ll get the joy of knowing that you made someone’s Christmas Day a special day.

If it weren’t for the VFW and the first responders, and the generosity of this community, Christmas Day would be just like any other day: Another day of going without.

After all, Christmas is about giving, not receiving.