The Day is for a 12th holiday season asking readers to “Make a Difference” in the lives of their southeastern Connecticut neighbors. The experience from the prior 11 years assures us you will make a big difference.

Daily during the holiday season, The Day, in its print edition and on theday.com, will feature a request to help a person or family in need, often because of a temporary crisis. The requests vary — help in furnishing an apartment after being forced from home by domestic violence; gift cards and cash donations to get a family through a rough spot after an illness; coats for folks in a homeless shelter; help to get a car, vital for a job, fixed — but the common theme is that the generosity of strangers can make a life-changing difference.

Yes, the need is there all year, and people provide help all year through charitable giving. But, this time of year, people seemed particularly moved to give in a personal way.

As Fred explained to his Uncle Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol”:

“I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round … as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time … when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely.”

We thank you for opening yours.

The Day editorial board meets with political, business and community leaders to formulate editorial viewpoints. It is composed of President and Publisher Timothy Dwyer, Executive Editor Izaskun E. Larraneta, Owen Poole, copy editor, and Lisa McGinley, retired deputy managing editor. The board operates independently from The Day newsroom.