On Saturday, I witnessed what Neosho is all about.
On Saturday, I watched more than 1,025 families receive a good Christmas meal and two weeks of food staples at the Newton County Food Basket Brigade.
On Saturday, I watched as more than 400 coats, jackets and other winter items were distributed to those in need in an effort to keep them warm this winter as the temperatures dips.
On Saturday, I received word that more than $23,000 in donations were spent by families on items for the Christmas season who otherwise would have found nothing under the tree come Christmas morning.
On Saturday, I walked into the conference room at the newspaper office to be greeted by bags full of donations brought in by readers and members of the community for our annual Share Your Christmas program, started decades ago by the late Daily News veteran Bill Ball, and continued today by program chairperson John Ford.
On Saturday, the giving spirit of our community washed away all the negativity that has swirled around our community in recent weeks.
The smiles of those receiving a turkey and all the trimmings, the warm hug all a man receiving a coat that was “just his size” after admitting he didn’t have a coat for winter or money to purchase one, the joy being shared by the volunteers giving of their time and money to help all the community causes were enough to warm any cold soul.
Saturday was what Neosho is all truly about.
Even when our world economy is in a downturn and people are cutting back on their spending, our little community of Neosho proved this year there was no trimming of its giving budget.
The Shopping with Heroes program crushed its goal of $20,000 raised and set another record in donations.
The Newton County Food Basket Brigade received more monetary donations this year than it did in 2008. The first year of the newspaper’s Project Warmth coat campaign brought it more than 400 items, and donations continue to roll in for its Share Your Christmas program, which will help three families in dire need this holiday.
Even though it’s been hard to ignore the negative in recent weeks, let’s make sure and not lose sight of the big picture as we near the Christmas season.
We are truly blessed to live in such a caring, loving community that never fails to take care of its own. We are blessed to have neighbors that will give of their own money, time and sweat to help pick us up when life knocks us down. Folks, on Saturday, I was reminded that we are truly blessed to call Neosho home.
Rick Rogers is the publisher of the Daily News.
