Christmas is a time of giving. This is nowhere more evident than in a small town. And it seems especially evident in this particular small town.

In the recent weeks, as the holiday season has approached, we have published many stories highlighting local examples of simple and profound generosity. Many of these tell of common everyday folks who are just looking out for the less fortunate around them.

Local school children have, as they often do, blazed the trail. Mack Lyon Middle School Beta Club held a successful toy drive; offering, as an incentive, an ice cream party. But the entire sixth grade class decided to forfeit that party, just letting the gratification of giving be its own reward. Unsurprisingly that class had the most donations. Students at Bowler and Perkins Elementary Schools teamed up with Overton Power District in a huge food drive. The kids raided their pantries at home bringing in hundreds of pounds of food to re-stock the Cappalappa Food Bank and help feed the needy in the community.

For years, the local “Toys For Tots” drive has been a great success. Thanks to its volunteers, it is possibly the best organized and most efficient drive of its kind. In addition, our local police officers reached out to provide Christmas cheer to a few young kids and their families. Thanks to these acts of generosity, and many others, no child in this community need go hungry or without presents on Christmas morning. That is quite a claim, but its true.

In addition, much is offered for those who, while not poor in money, might be poor in spirit. The community has been filled with music. Free holiday performances like the Messiah Sing, Valley Voices, Zephyr Singers, the Perkins Elementary Program and many others have lifted the burdens of the lonely or depressed. This community is also rich in its many churches. Each and every denomination provides good tidings of great joy to those in the congregation who most need it.

Reading the news today is often a rather gloomy proposition. In our modern world, it can be a challenge to be of good cheer. But we can see so much life-affirming goodness in the world in the actions of millions of common people everyday. We at the Progress, have always taken it as our mission, and our privilege, to notice and to highlight that human goodness that is so evident in our own little part of the world.

We wish all of our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!