As we continue through these amazing summer days, I wanted to reflect on the days of winter, specifically the days surrounding our Holiday season and the charity that so many provided in supporting the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign. It may be a stretch to remember those cold and snowy days when you paused at the Kettle site, made a donation, and maybe even visited with the volunteer ringing their bell.
As I have shared in the past, I have the privilege of being the Kewaunee County Voucher Writer for the Salvation Army. In doing so, I have the unique opportunity to interact with those who are in need throughout our community on a regular basis, and I am always humbled by their willingness to share what they are going through.
As you may recall, the funds for these types of assistance interactions are derived from the donations that you, the community, provide through the Kettle Campaign, which runs from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. These Kettles are placed at businesses throughout Kewaunee County, and requests for assistance are also received from our neighbors throughout Kewaunee County.
Recently, I provided a voucher to a family struggling with unforeseen medical bills to assist with their utilities. In another instance, I was able to provide assistance to a gentleman who was recently unemployed and struggling to make ends meet as he awaited his first paycheck in his new job. Yet, in another time of need, your generosity provided fuel for a young woman’s vehicle so that she could get to a job interview. Unfortunately, very seldom a week goes by that I do not receive a request for help in some way. Fortunately, most of these needs can be met. While I am able to provide assistance through the Salvation Army on most of these occasions, other charitable organizations assist our community with resources as well. I am very grateful for the local food pantries and the Lakeshore Community Pantry Thrift Shop. There have also been so many situations in which local businesses have stepped forward to assist a family or individual with help in the area of their expertise.
In a world that tends to fixate on the negative, we can never let ourselves be distracted from the fact that they are vastly outnumbered by the positive events and supportive people that are around us every day. Even in those negative people or events, it doesn’t take a great deal of effort to peel away the layers to find the good.
Many times, we feel helpless as we watch events unfold around the world and even in our own communities. While we cannot change so much of what we see, we can ensure that it does not change us. Please know that every time we can assist someone in our community, we are sending a message that we will always be here for each other without judgment and without hesitation. That in itself is the definition of community. I remain grateful to be a part of this community and the generosity it shows to those in need.
