Give to Season for Sharing and end gooberism forever

Three days before Thanksgiving, I got an email from Nathan Delafield, a doctor at Valleywise Health Medical Center. He had surprising news.

He had been a foster child and returned to work in the area where he grew up. He volunteers for the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, hoping to give foster children the opportunities others gave him.

Delafield said someone who read the story I wrote about him donated $100,000 to the foundation.

About the same time, I received offers from readers to donate yarn to Ashley McKendrick, who knits hats for premature babies. Jonnie Buckmaster, of Mesa, had a boxful of yarn and asked if I could connect them. Ashley and her sister picked up the yarn on Thanksgiving, bringing Buckmaster a plate of food.

This is the season for sharing, when we feel most generous. That’s why The Arizona Republic runs its Season for Sharing campaign this time of year.

Now in its 27th year, Season for Sharing has raised almost $68 million. Last year, 143 charities statewide shared $1.8 million. Now the needs are even greater.

My predecessor Clay Thompson liked Season for Sharing because he knew the agencies are carefully vetted and he liked the good they do. Clay would remind his readers not to be “goobers,” people who know there is a need, have the means to help, but don’t. He wanted to stamp out gooberism one donation at a time. As part of my duties as resident columnist on Page 2A, I have picked up his mantle.

As always, there are gifts. Give $500 or more to be eligible for a drawing for prizes. For $1,000 or more, you’ll be entered for a drawing for even cooler prizes. Donate online at sharing.azcentral.com or fill out the coupon on Page 4A and mail it.

Say “yes” where it asks “Are you a Don’t be a Goober supporter?” If you’re donating, you’re not a goober.