Thanks and benevolence come packaged, or so it seems, solely in the final six weeks of the year. Truly, the “holiday season” fills a need in our society to manifest our sense of blessing and gratitude.

“Real generosity towards the future,” wrote Albert Camus, “lies in giving all to the present.”

While we wish for glad tidings and good cheer at all times, the start of the new year is a fitting opportunity to express, in the present, some particular hopes for friends and neighbors.

The following list of symbolic gift ideas could go on and on, as there are many more such expressions that could be made. This is no set of leftovers but a list of hopes and best wishes to last the year:

• A welcome mat (first of several) — to The Next Door Inc., with its new director Janet Hamada. The nonprofit service provider offers its own year-long reminder of good works in the community: a fund-raising calendar available at Rosauers and Waucoma Bookstore.

• A cup of cocoa — to Mt. Hood Meadows and Cooper Spur, as it looks forward to a bountiful snow season.

• A life supply of lip balm — to Crag Rats, as they carry out their work. Congratulations, meanwhile, as $295,000 in federal funds were approved in late 2007 to renovate the rescue group’s historic base of operations, Cloud Cap Inn.

• An extra row of bus seats — to CAT, the Hood River-based bus service, in hopes for plenty of riders on its new Portland and The Dalles routes.

• Another welcome mat — to Port of Hood River, in hopes that it can seal the deal soon on a new tenant for the Expo Center.

• A Swiss Army knife-style barometer-thermometer-yardstick-measuring cup — to the Columbia Gorge Commission as it embarks on its “vital signs” measurement of the Gorge.

• A moment, to stop, and read, and consider, the words in front of them — to all Hood River residents, as they encounter Poetry Posts in front of businesses, schools and other locations (including the downtown library). Each post will contain poems for all to enjoy at their leisure.

• A roll of quarters — to Relay for Life organizers, as they gear up for another July event to benefit the American Cancer Society. Here’s hoping even more people pick upon the stellar “line the track with quarters” idea at the Relay.

• A set of aviator goggles — to Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum (WAAAM), as it enters its second year of operation on Tucker Road in Hood River.

• Another welcome mat — to the Bite of the Gorge, in its new home, WAAAM (watch for details on the April gala to benefit Arts In Education).

• A shiny apple (Hood River, of course) — to Columbia Gorge Community College board and staff, as it looks ahead to the opening of the Hood River campus, fall 2008.

• A monogrammed apple corer — to Dave Burkhart, who in November 2007 published the book “It All Began With Apple Seeds: Growing Fruit in Hood River County, 1880-1980,” a fascinating and colorful history.

• A key, to share — to HOPE (HOusing for PEople) and the Mid-Columbia Housing Authority as it works out a joint arrangement to provide housing opportunities for low- and middle-income wage-earners in Hood River County.