By Staff
Some days it is overwhelming. So many stories in our newspaper in recent weeks have focused on the sheer number of needs in our community - people who need a safe roof over their heads; volunteer firefighters who need a working truck to help their neighbors; organizations that need funds to tutor children; people who need surgery to survive.
I don't know if we could ever give enough space in our newspaper to highlight all of the needs in the Brewton and East Brewton area.
But even more overwhelming than the number of people who need help are the number of people who step up to help.
Stop and consider all of the work that is done in this community by volunteers - Habitat for Humanity projects that put new roofs over a families' heads; church mission trips that bring hope to third-world countries and to neighbors on the coast hurt by hurricanes; Relay for Life teams that put money into cancer research; fires extinguished and medical calls serviced by volunteer fire departments.
And many of us pay it forward every day, in small ways. The catfish plate you buy at a fire department fundraiser buys more protection for your neighbors. The money you put in the second collection at church might go to a special mission project that helps folks here in Brewton.
You never know how far-reaching even the smallest gift can be.
But it's hands-on volunteer work that often brings people the most satisfaction - and the most immediate rewards.
And those volunteers may be the true heroes who keep our community humming along behind the scenes.
Kerry Whipple Bean is publisher of The Brewton Standard. She can be reached at 251-867-4876 or by e-mail at kerry.bean@brewtonstandard.com.