Editor’s Message

With Thanksgiving upon us, we acknowledge the importance of families and friends as we share a feast, memories, and activities on the holidays.

Even as there are days or weeks designated to honor those in the community and across the nation, I we should give thanks for ALL our volunteers who are ingrained in many parts of our lives.

Think about how volunteerism contributes to Castro County overall.

We have volunteer fire departments. hospital auxiliary, booster clubs, parents who step up to promote and support FFA, band, robotics, Kids Inc., the county fair, livestock shows, 4-H, Sheriff’s Office Toy Drive… the list goes on and on for every event that happens locally in Dimmitt, Nazareth, and Hart. Without these selfish citizens, many events would not be happening. Fires would not be put out. Benefits and fundraisers would fail. Committees would diminish along with events.

While volunteers can be incidental to the operation of some organizations or success of events, those very things might not be able to function without them. There are few things that can succeed in any community without volunteers.

Volunteers often have specialized skills.

Be it farming and ranching, computers, cooking, music and any number of endeavors. Often volunteers can also pay more detailed attention to the people they are serving as they are volunteering for a specific task. and so can devote their entire attention to it.

Volunteers can literally make or break events.

Often volunteerism falls on a small percentage of a community, with many people not realizing how they themselves can contribute in some small way. But everyone can make a difference in some way.

This Thanksgiving, I say “Thank You” to all the volunteers in the county in all our communities in whatever capacity they are serving others.

I urge everyone to step up and become a part of a selfless group of people giving to their community. Yes, you can make a difference. Every little bit helps.