In keeping with the spirit of the season, we take note of the many opportunities we have to help the less fortunate, often through large, well-organized charities.
On Wednesday, Columbus Air Force Base personnel and their families participated in one of those programs — wrapping presents as part of the Happy Irby Christmas Fund, which provides gifts of clothing to needy elementary school children throughout the city of Columbus and Lowndes County.
Now, in it’s 60th year, the Happy Irby Christmas Fund is a well-organized, year-round enterprise with volunteers and a board that manages its funds.
But it didn’t start out that way, which may be the most important lesson to be learned from this effort.
In 1958, George Happy Irby, a former airman himself, was tending bar at the officer’s club at Columbus Air Force Base when an idea came to him. He wanted to do something to help the poor folks around town, especially kids and senior citizens. So he sat up a tip jar at the bar and began collecting change.
Near Christmas, he emptied out the tip jar, using the money to buy fruit baskets for the old folks or stuff a few bills into envelopes that he passed out to kids.
It was anything but organized. It was just one man figuring out a way to help others.
This year, the Happy Irby Christmas Fund spent $13,000 to provide gifts for 350 children. No one would be happier than Happy, who died in 2009 at the age of 94, still committed as ever to the fund that bears his name.
Wednesday, 14th Flying Training Wing Commander Col. Samantha Weeks joined about 40 airmen and their families to wrap this year’s presents.
She paused to note how it all began and the lesson we can all take from it.
“Happy Irby chose to give back to those who were less fortunate, even though he wasn’t some rich philanthropist,” Weeks said. “He just had it in his heart to figure out how to give what he could. That’s what he is still showing us all these years later. I think we all just need to follow George’s example and figure out where we can give and realize that even a small amount makes a gigantic difference to somebody else.”
Our community is blessed to have an abundance of worthy charities who respond to the needs of the less fortunate in our community. We encourage everyone to give what they can to support these efforts.
But we also encourage everyone to remember Happy Irby’s lesson.
You don’t have to have an organization, fund-raisers, a board of directors to help a neighbor in need.
Do what you can. It matters.
And, as Irby might say, it’s a great way to have a “Happy” Christmas.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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