Editorial: Make room for charity when building a holiday budget this year

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Black Friday — the name commonly bestowed on the post-Thanksgiving rush of holiday shopping — is a relatively recent phenomenon, only coming into vogue as we now know it in the mid-1980s. What began as a clever marketing strategy by retailers has exploded into a multiday frenzy of commerce in which Americans annually spend billions.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with trying to check everyone off your gift list and hunting bargains, even if it requires starting in the early morning darkness and battling crowds similarly inspired by deep discounts. But in making a holiday budget this year, please remember those in our community who rely on generosity by devoting a few dollars to your neighbors in need and the organizations which support them.