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Spirit of the season Photo by Steve Johnson Carrie Brown sorts through food as a volunteer at the Thanksgiving Day meal at Eagle Point High School. Mom teaches her son to give By WENDY SIPOREN She was turned down by the Salvation Army and the Gospel Mission. Then she was told she wasn't qualified to serve food because she didn't have a food-handler's permit. Finally, Carrie Brown settled for wiping tables and clearing plates at a Thanksgiving dinner at Eagle Point High School. While Brown didn't expect it to be so difficult to find a volunteer opportunity over the holiday, she was glad to do her small part. While many Rogue Valley residents kick off the holiday season with a trip to the mall, the Brown family makes it a point to start the season with a small gift of giving. "We call it Thanksgiving," said Brown, who spent four hours Thursday with her son Ben helping out at a free dinner at Eagle Point High School. "For this family, this year in particular, we have a lot to be thankful for. "We need to give back. ... Maybe this is one way of trying to find the true spirit of the season." Her son Ben, who is 13 and attends Eagle Point Junior High School, says he doesn't mind his mother's annual lesson in generosity. "Ever since I've been getting stuff we've been giving it away," he said. "It's amazing how quickly our children become commercialized," said Brown. "It's something that should be passed on from generation to generation -- that spirit of giving." As Christmas draws closer, there will be many opportunities to give toys and clothes to families in need. But social service workers say they wish that generosity would extend year-round. "There's so many needy people in our community in so many ways," said Kathy Garrett Canape with the Community Partnership Team. "I know there is tremendous need (for volunteers). It's a matter of plugging in." Canape's office recruits, screens and coordinates volunteers for 15 state human service programs, including Big Brother/Big Sister, lunch buddies and a driving program to get children to medical appointments. "Certainly anybody that called our office, we'd help them plug in and find something," said Canape. "Right now I have 20 boys waiting for a big brother." (Volunteer opportunities such as these are gathered by Managers of Volunteers in Action (MOVIA) and listed twice a month in the Lifestyle section of Sunday's Mail Tribune. Another listing can be found in Tuesday's Prime Time section.) Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA