Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913

Spot Those Collection Boxes

By the time the sun set on Dec. 28, 1983, it had started to sink in that my family and I were homeless. We had found shelter with my husband’s parents. The reason we were homeless was because we’d lost our house and everything we had in it, other than the clothes on our backs, to fire.

The morning after the fire my husband said, “I just realized we don’t even own a comb so we can comb our hair.”

Basic needs. A comb, a toothbrush, a change of clothing, a washcloth and towel, shampoo, soap.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, we soon found a house and it was furnished right down to groceries in the cupboards and silverware in a drawer.

What a good feeling it was to know we once again had a warm place to live and our basic needs were fulfilled.

It seems that we hear constantly about people in need. They may have a place to live but yet be in need of food and the simplest of items like bathroom tissue, laundry soap, liquid soap, shampoo, paper towels, even diapers, baby wipes, toiletries used by infants.

I was made vividly aware of this problem in talking with a person who works at the food bank in Valley County. And so this week I am making a plea that when you donate a can of food or a box of cereal or some other non perishable food item to the food bank, you also remember to add a bar of soap or a package of paper towels or bathroom tissue or personal hygienic products.

Even if it’s nothing more than travel sizes of soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, anything you can think of in the line of paper products and hygenic products will be appreciated.

Look for collection boxes at the grocery stores and churches. Perhaps there could even be boxes set up in other places of business. Or challenge coworkers and friends to help others. Let’s see to it that our local food bank not only has plenty of food on the shelves but that other shelves are filled with basic necessities.

When you are so blessed that you have more than you need the best way to give thanks is to share your abundance with others.

 

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