You can help make a difference too!

Do you know someone that might need a little help around the holidays?

There are many different ways to help them.

There are many families and elderly people who go to bed hungry and cold every night in Mountain Home. Some of them may be families whose parents work full time and the children are left at home for a few hours every day, or they could be the one's that have stay at home parents. It doesn't matter, each and every one of us knows of a family that just can't make ends meet.

Do you have an elderly neighbor, who you might wave to on occasion? Ever wonder if they are really alright? Is there enough food in their home? Are they able to get their heating system working? Maybe there is a leak in the bathroom that they just can't fix, so they don't use it. Did you ever ask them if they need help?

What about that family that always had a neat yard, maybe not up to the neighborhood standards, but clean. Did you notice that it is starting to look really shabby. Ever wonder why? Maybe one of the parents has left the home, maybe they are in the middle of a medical crisis. How about depression? It doesn't hurt to attempt a conversation with your neighbor, nine times out of ten you will find out what is going on in their lives and be able to offer some help.

Every year Mountain Home has several projects in which to help the families in the area. Most people know about the Cheer Basket project, which provides a food basket to people who have filled out an application for help. Did you know that you could also fill one out for someone that you think needs the help? Try it. Don't assume that these people will have a holiday meal or that family will take care of them.

The other program which I personally know about is the Giving Tree. Every year a group of volunteers sort, wrap and distribute gifts to needy children and the elderly. Every year, there are more children and elderly than there are gifts. I have personally witnessed this group of people, go out and purchase items to make sure that everyone on their list receives something.

Perhaps when you make that 4th or 5th trip to Walmart or Boise, or even the Dollar Store - you could just pick up a little something for one of the area children or elderly and drop it off at the Mountain Home News office, 195 S. 3rd E.

Make yourself happy this year, by providing happiness for someone else.