Who’s minding the store? By KAREN KENNEDY Some of you may remember when I started this column last January I said that column topics would include the good, the bad, and the ugly. Problem is it’s mostly been the “bad and the ugly” that have been brought to my attention. It may often seem that I enjoy finding fault in what’s going on around here when, in all actuality, nothing would please me more than to talk about what’s good. I’ve done a little of that in the past, and I’d like to do more. One recent good thing that’s been brought to my attention is the result of the Meade County Senior Citizens Center benefit held on Oct. 15. Center director Sondra Hinton couldn’t be more pleased with the fabulous community support and the over $2,500 raised to support the center and its programs. “I must have put in 300 miles going around to businesses and asking for support,” said Hinton, “and just about everyone said yes.” Couple that with the recent interior remodeling at the center, and we’ve got some nice things going on for our older generation who relies on the center for meals, companionship, and overall social support. As always, our Meade County Public Library is an important part of the community for both our young and old and everyone in between. If you look at the library’s Web site, you’ll see that over the years quite a few people have supported our library with monetary donations because they know that a library is an integral part of any community. Programs like Library Princesses continue to be popular. The yoga class stays very full. The summer concert series has been a big hit. There’s a whole lot more to our library than just books. Hopefully, when a good location can be found, we’ll have ourselves a brand new library with better space and facilities. Even more could be offered; just imagine the possibilities. The improvements made to our Meade County Animal Shelter several years ago would not have been possible if not for the support of countless people who donated money, materials, and time to the project. Pets in Need Society formed in 2000 with what some thought was a very lofty goal, and many said it could never be done. Yet our animal shelter and animal control program has improved tenfold and PINS’ spay/neuter program continues to this day. All because of people who opened their minds, hearts, and wallets and made it happen. If you’ve read my article about Desiree Rogers and her family, you’ll know that people in our community have supported and will hopefully continue to support this family during a time when they so very much need support. Just like we’ve supported countless others in our county during hard times. Just like our community stepped up to the plate when the disaster hit New Orleans and the surrounding area. Every year various service groups ensure that children and families who don’t have a lot of extra money have a nice Thanksgiving and Christmas. Kind souls pick names off the angel trees, purchasing the heart’s desires of many girls and boys so that their Christmas day can be a happy one. I’ve mentioned only a few ways that Meade County people support their community and fellow man. If we’re nothing else, we’re a community that reaches out to help each other when times are tough. In this respect, we should all be at least a little bit proud of ourselves because when it comes to our fellow man we really are a community that “minds the store.” Got a topic you’d like to see discussed? Contact Karen Kennedy at 422-2155 or send an e-mail to messenger@bbtel.com. The Messenger will consider all topics and select those that best lend themselves to the column’s format. All comments in response to the column should be sent to the Messenger in the form of a Letter to the Editor.
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