Tis The Season

“So this is Christmas, and what have you done?”

The first line of John Lennon’s famous holiday song reminds us that the season calls for a personal account of our efforts to aid community and humanity. Another year is ending, he reminds us, and a new one—with a new set of needs—awaits just a few days away.

Kimball and the surrounding area faces many challenges: economic growth, low income families, an aging population, homes and buildings in disrepair. Of course, most many parts of the world share in these. But we believe the residents of Kimball and Banner Counties deserve much praise for their actions throughout the year.

Just last week, for example, employees at GRI donned purple shirts in a show of support for Ken Risk and his fight against cancer. In purchasing the specially emblazoned shirts, they were also able to donate $420 to St. Jude’s hospital. The town also raises money for victims of the disease and their families through the Andy Shaw softball tournament and a Relay for Life event.

People take care of children in need by volunteering for or donating to such programs as Shop with a Cop, the Quarter Store, Coats for Kids, the school’s TeamMates mentoring program and much, much more.

The Whelchel family of Banner County earned just recognition for adopting and caring for several children. Others provide the same amount of care to adopted kids, but on a smaller scale.

Kimball’s young people give back, through youth groups and club projects. Some, for example, repainted curbside house numbers. Others visited the Kimball County Manor to help the elderly celebrate Halloween by painting pumpkins. One young man, part of the Eco-Club at Mary Lynch, took it upon himself to collect cans for recycling.

During the summer, Kim Baliman conceived of a collaborative project, bringing together individual and businesses on a voluntary basis to repaint, demolish or otherwise improve upon weathered properties in town. Many joined her in the effort.

We could go on and on.

In ways small or exceedingly generous, with donations of cash, labor, equipment or time, whether prosperous or just getting by, the residents of this area have acquitted themselves well.

Have a very merry Christmas, one full of good cheer.