Community generosity amazing

The generosity of the community in Washakie County, especially during the holidays, never ceases to amaze.

This year more than 160 families were provided a Christmas dinner through the Washakie County Ministerial Association’s Christmas basket program.

The association’s angel tree program, the Worland fire department’s toy drive and Mad Cyclez new toy drive also helped many children have a Merry Christmas this year.

Here at the Northern Wyoming News, with more than 60 bells for our senior community saw people go above and beyond to help our elderly in the entire county have a merrier Christmas than they would have otherwise.

In another act of generosity we were told about the giving tree at South Side Elementary School. On the tree are decorations with recommendations from teachers and staff about students’ needs.

Administrative assistant Stacy Green said, “Every year we are so grateful for the people who are willing to donate and bring a present.”

Green said one parent and the parent’s fellow coworkers at an area business went above and beyond for one student who transferred to South Side from Laura Irwin Elementary in Basin after a house fire in Manderson made his home unlivable. The fire was in September and the student lived there with his mother and three other relatives, per a story in the Greybull Standard.

The parent and coworkers provided a multitude of items for the student’s family and the gifts were delivered on Thursday, Dec. 19.

“Without involved parents and community we could not do this,” Green said.

She is right, it is you, the residents of this community who have touched many lives this Christmas, in ways that you may never know.

What is great about these giving opportunities is that the parent who showed such generosity to a family devastated by a fire, and the many who helped with the numerous giving trees around the community for the most part will be anonymous to those on the receiving end of that generosity.

Is that not the true meaning of Christmas and generosity, giving to others and not expecting anything in return.

To everyone who helped not just with our Silver Tree for Seniors, but who helped make Christmas bright for someone else, whether it was a neighbor, a stranger on the street or through one of the many giving programs this season we say thank you and God bless.