The pantries are full once again

The pantries are full once again.

A crisis not seen in this community in decades remained in check -- at least for now.

People trying desperately to make ends meet and still put food on the table found a glimmer of hope through the generosity of others.

In just a few short weeks, the Mountain Home community showed just what it can do when it commits itself to something so important. People of all ages took a few minutes out of their lives -- some devoted much more -- to ensure no one went hungry over the holiday season.

Regardless of how much time, food, money or gifts local residents donated, every effort added together to make a huge difference. Food pantries at the Grace Lutheran Food Pantry, the El-Ada Community Action Agency and others all benefitted from this generosity. Children of financially strapped families woke up Christmas morning with gifts beneath their trees.

But perhaps the greatest gift of all was seeing how much people in this community care about one another. As they dropped off their bags or boxes of donations, they never asked questions. They simply knew someone out there needed the help and responded with an outpouring of support not seen in a long time.

School students rallied one another to not only meet goals of their respective food drives but to utterly shatter previously standing records.

Local businesses either extended their existing efforts or started new drives to collect additional food and other donations.

Others pitched in wherever they could to donate whatever they had available to help in their own unique way. What they didn't buy from a store they made themselves.

In an odd sort of way, perhaps all these efforts reminded us that each of our lives could change unexpectedly for the worse. It also reassured us that this community will be there to help pick us up when we stumble -- no questions asked.

Author Jean De La Bruyere once said that, "out of difficulties grow miracles." Perhaps that's what happened here. Despite insurmountable odds and overwhelming demands, we were able to ensure everyone was able to find a reason to celebrate the holidays.

We somehow found a way to make the impossible a reality -- to create a miracle.

At the same time, the magnitude of people's generosity in recent weeks meant there was enough left over keep the local food banks fully stocked. However, if the demand for food stays the same or starts to increase once again, it's possible these supplies will run out before the next major food drives begin later this year.

But for now, the pantries are full once again.