Tis the season of wonder

I say this every year, the community never ceases to amaze me with its generosity and caring spirit.

You would think at some point I would stop being surprised but I am happy to be surprised every year. Even in tough economic times, when everyone is stretching their dollars as far as they can, people are still finding ways to spread the joy of the Christmas season.

Go anywhere where there was an angel tree for the Washakie Ministerial Association and you will see few or no tags left. Take a gander at the boxes set out at various stores for the Worland Fire Department’s toy drive and you will see them filling up.

We have reported on or published advertisements from school groups, organizations and businesses who are or have conducted food and personal hygiene item drives for the WMA Food Bank. Some businesses have had matching donation programs (you donate and they match).

Here at the Northern Wyoming News, we have watched over the past three weeks as silver bells representing 84 of our senior citizens in Worland and Ten Sleep slowly be taken off the tree and returned with wonderful Christmas packages to be disbursed next week.

As of this writing we have five bells (tags) left on the tree. Every year there are more people we need to help and every year the community steps up to meet the needs of the people in the community, not just at Christmas but all year round.

If you have wanted to help out but missed grabbing a tag from the angel trees or a silver bell there are plenty of organizations that can use your help.

The ministerial association will take donations, non-perishable food and hygiene items all year round. They also accept monetary donations.

The senior centers welcome donations, feel free to buy some meal tickets that the centers can hand out or ask if there are other needs.

We have plenty of other organizations who also lend a helping hand to the community — Worland Rotary, Kiwanis, Elks, Eagles, DOES, Friends of the Ten Sleep and Worland libraries, Washakie Hospital Foundation, Eden Rose Foundation, Playing for Hope Foundation, New Hope Humane Society, just to name a few.

If you cannot give financially you can give of your time. Many, if not all of these organizations, would welcome volunteers for special events and programs. Just give them a call.

Thank you Washakie County for continuing your generous spirit.

May your season be filled with wonder and awe.