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How can we instill in our children an appreciation for what they already have -- especially when the people around them seem to have just about everything?

One of the most obvious things children are faced with is the reality of America's income inequality. For them, this is most apparent in the size of their friends' homes. While many of our children’s friends live in nice homes they are not aware of small apartments in government subsidized housing, and less fortunate living in cavernous lofts and single-family townhouses. As is human nature for children and adults alike, our kids are prone to comparing what our family has to what they perceive is bigger and better.

On December 14, 2011, Dravin Erdolino, age 7, and Kaden White, age 8, learned the value of “appreciation” by helping Mr. Mike Schwartz director of Mike’s Food Fund and owner of Mike’s Bikes in Lexington Park.The boys assisted with sorting and then delivering food to 11 families in the California Area (with the help of their mothers).

Mike’s Food Fund

This will be the 28th year that Mike Schwartz, director of Mike’s Food Fund and owner of Mike’s Bikes in Lexington Park, has tried to assure that every person in St. Mary’s County who needs it has access to a holiday dinner for Christmas — a turkey, 10 pounds of potatoes and some canned goods.

Last year, more than 1,800 dinners were delivered. This year, Schwartz is hoping to have enough funding, food and volunteers to deliver 2,000. He gets names of people who could use the assistance from the St. Mary’s County Office of Human Services. Each dinner costs about $25 to put together.

Appreciation

As a parent to a young child you want the best for them but sometimes having the best of material things doesn’t always teach the value of appreciation.

What can YOU do to give back?

Teach your children the value of appreciation.In today’s society kids are extremely vulnerable to peer pressure and keeping up with the latest trends of all sorts (Game box, technology, gadgets, fashion, etc). GET YOUR KIDS INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY!!!!

Those who would like to help can just show up at Zion United Methodist Church on Route 235 in Lexington Park from Monday, Dec. 12, through Friday, Dec. 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. After Dec. 16 and through Christmas Eve, the staging site will be at Mike’s Bikes. For more information, call 301-863-7887. Financial donations toward the effort can be mailed to Mike’s Food Fund, 21310C Great Mills Road, Lexington Park, MD 20653