An image persists in our culture about what the holidays are supposed to look like.

The exact details change depending on someone’s personal beliefs, but generally some similarities exist: Families coming together and celebrating with big meals or the exchanging of luxurious presents.

The notion that generally prevails this time of the year is that goodwill and generosity are the primary focus of everyone and peace spreads throughout the planet.

This image may exists as pretty as a Hallmark card, but not everyone has the privilege of being able to celebrate around the holidays. In the United States, 13.55 percent of the population lives in poverty, according to Census Reporter, a Knight Foundation site. In Michigan, that number is 19.55 percent, and in Stockbridge 5.9 percent live below the poverty line.

Capitalism and the holidays go hand in hand, and that Hallmark image that is so often pushed isn’t cheap. Food alone is a major expense.

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and once again the meals were assembled partially through donations and a food drive conducted by the leadership program at the high school. More than 75 families were able to celebrate Thanksgiving because of the Stockbridge Outreach program.

“We definitely get the most donations around Christmas,” Karen Smith, manager of Stockbridge Community Outreach, said. “Summer is a time when we don’t get a lot of cash and food donations. However, donations of used goods are fairly constant throughout the year.”

For 17 years, leadership teacher Corey Baird has helped run the Thanksgiving food drive. The school food drive is one of the most important providers for Outreach during this time of the year.

“It helps to do the fundraisers at a few certain times during the year,” Baird said. “During the holidays the Outreach really could use as much food as possible.”

While various programs run throughout the year to help those in need, the success of these charities is entirely dependent on the generosity of others.

In Michigan, 2,093,199 students are eligible for free lunches according to the Michigan Department of Education. They come from households that are either below the poverty line or only slightly above it. Even if they get that Hallmark card celebration, will they have it the next month? Christmas trees only get presents under them once a year, and that is just not often enough.

“It’s probably good to not have food drives all the time,” junior and leadership student Jada Moser said. “You might get more food overall if you did the drives regularly, but you wouldn’t get as much food at one time.

Widely celebrated holidays do not happen all that often, but for many around the world every day brings new struggles. Giving doesn’t always require colorful wrapping paper. The holidays will come and go, but the Outreach will always have their doors open.

“We usually provide for 50 households each month,” Smith said. “We’re determined to keep helping no matter what.”