The holiday season is a time associated with, amongst others, an increase in our sense of charity and helping those in need.

Many donate to charity through annual telethons such as L-Istrina and id-Dar tal-Providenza’s Festa tal-Generozita – which together raised over €6.5 million in donations – while companies also embark on their own charitable initiatives as well.

This isn’t at all surprising: giving to and thinking of those who are less fortunate has been a key characteristic of Christmas for many generations.

However, supporting those in need should not be something limited to the Christmas period.

We hear of and write about instances throughout the year of people in need, people who are facing poverty, people who are stranded at sea as they seek a better life, and many other different scenarios.

But sometimes the same solidarity shown in and around the Christmas period for people in need is not reproduced, at least not with the same fervour, at different times of the year. 

While there isn’t a single bad word which can be said about fundraisers such as L-Istrina and that organised by id-Dar tal-Providenza, it is saddening in a way that there are people and companies out there who use the opportunity to donate to such telethons – perhaps knowing that they’ll get their name on the big screen if they donate enough – as a means of absolving themselves of helping anyone in need at different points in the year.

This statement is not to be taken as a generalisation: for sure there are many people and companies who support charitable initiatives, be it through volunteering or financial assistance or otherwise, and who support those in need throughout the year.  But the fact is that this isn’t the case with everyone.

A mantra which you do see people following is that ‘charity begins at home.’ It’s a phrase which has been used in different situations – particularly those involving migrants or foreigners who have escaped instability elsewhere – to justify not helping others.

The proverb is sound in the sense that one must thing of those around us, but at the same time saying that ‘charity begins at home’ does not mean that it should stop there.  When it comes to charity there shouldn’t be any ifs and buts.

Arguments made by individuals that they will refuse to donate to L-Istrina because amongst the many beneficiaries of funds from the Malta Community Chest Fund are NGOs who work with migrants, for instance, are a puerile argument at best.

What difference should it make whether someone in need is Maltese or otherwise, for instance? Begrudging someone of their most basic necessities because of things like nationality – for instance – is nothing more than cruel.

Yes, we must provide for our families first, and if there is nothing leftover then so be it. But when we do have what to give, then we should give with no terms and conditions.

So let 2023 be a year where we all come together to work for those in need – irrespective of who they are, and irrespective of when it is.