Holiday Season Has it's Highs...and Lows...A Tip of the Hat to Those Who Help...

A current theme of Travel Ape's posts have been toward the Holiday Season. There is no doubt that the Season is upon us now, as I sit on the East Cost and it is officially Thanksgiving Day. There are many things to look upon as this season comes, especially when it comes to tradition. There are foods, and events that many of us look to each year. Of course there comes a lot of travel with the holiday's too, and Travel Ape would be remiss if he didn't at least acknowledge that to be the case. We travel to friends homes, back to our childhood homes to visit with parents and grandparents, or to go for a special getaway to either a sunny island or a ski vacation. 

To many though, this season brings with it a great deal of malaise. It's a time where people who have felt loss or are alone, where this feeling stings the most. No one deserves to be alone during this time of year especially and there are travel programs for singles, or elderly to take part. 

To that end there are some unsung heroes that help people dealing with grief, and having had spend much time on the road, Travel Ape would like to acknowledge these people and the organizations. 

In the West Coast, out of Los Angeles California there is the Hope Unit Foundation.  Founded by a group of ten people that were spurred into action by a feeling that cancer patients and to a larger extend terminal patients were not be treated for the grief associated with their conditions. The HOPE Unit Foundation did just that. They have been recognized in California for their outstanding work in this area and are a fabulous group. If you live, travel to or are even in need of help like this in Los Angeles check out the HOPE Unit Foundation. 

Heading out to the East Coast, a smaller area, but an organization that really has become a shining star in the area of grief counseling is the Alcove Grief Counseling and serves the greater Atlantic City NJ area.  The Alcove is located in the town of Northfield NJ, which is just outside of Atlantic City, but the focus of the foundation is to counsel children dealing with a loss in the family. A service that can't be heralded enough. The Alcove has been able to collect millions in grants and contributions each year due to its outstanding reputation in dealing with grief as it does with children. As any of us know, the Holidays can be a difficult time to deal with loss, but for children it is a sin that should not have a solution ready. The members of the Alcove provide this incredible service.

The city of New Orleans was stunned almost 4 years ago by Hurricane Katrina, and in large part as a community has not recovered. The Seasons Grief Center has been providing help in overtime since this terrible tragedy. Originally having been set up to deal with terminally ill patients and their families, Season's has extended their service to help out with many in the community that are dealing with loss of a life they had. A life that had been decimated to nothing. For that effort and so much more Seasons Grief Center of New Orleans has received much official recognition and awards for this effort. For good reason.

There are many other viable and worthy organizations that probably deserve recognition for the same reasons the ones mentioned above have been. Travel Ape welcomes any posts to recognize these worthy groups. In the spirit of this being a mainly travel oriented blog and web site, we'd also like to suggest for those of you Volunteer Travel. This is a great way to get away and see the world and also help people.  

There is no doubt that Travel Ape is a fun filled simian and absolutely enjoys the holiday season. Travel Ape also has a heart and knows that many are sad and need help. 

From all of us at Travel Ape, enjoy your up and coming holiday season, if you're lucky enough to have a good life, be thankful for all you have and if you're not, know that there is a world out there that does care.