Many providing gifts to our community

The Christmas season is filled with stories of benevolence — but to be honest, we just cannot get enough of them. They reinforce the “reason for the season” and provide some warmth for the soul against the chill of the weather and the finally thawing economy.

Earlier this week, the Democrat’s Bob Satnan wrote about an effort by Dale Malone, the owner of Daisy Dukes & Cowboy Boots, to raise enough money to purchase 100 bicycles for the Community Santa campaign, which provides Christmas gifts for families in need. Malone started with a simple Facebook post last Monday, and a pledge to buy the first 10 bikes at $30 each. The response so far has been outstanding.

As of Friday evening, he already had donations or pledges for 107 bikes, so the new goal is 150. Malone will keep taking pledges through the end of a party for Community Santa on Dec. 16 at Dukes & Boots.

Also this week, United Way of Sedalia-Pettis County reported its campaign brought in more than $750,000. Those dollars come from our community, and remain here to help our neighbors.

There also is another outreach effort that starts close to home but extends to a place with great need. According to John Nail, principal and kindergarten teacher at St. Paul’s Lutheran School, the school’s students agreed to collect money for families in Joplin instead of getting small gifts for each other this Christmas.

Nail shared with us that one student took all his piggy bank money out and donated it to help Joplin residents.  

The students’ contributions, added with Wednesday chapel offerings, allowed St. Paul’s school to make a donation of $687 to help the Lutheran school in Joplin further its reach into the tornado-torn community.

As Nail told us: “I’m very proud of our 74 fine students who are learning the gift of giving and helping because Christ first loved us. Our Sedalia community is amazing when it comes to helping others. This is just another bright example for us to pause and ask, ‘What can I do to help others?’”

We indeed feel fortunate to live in a community that not only asks that question frequently, but provides the answer, as well.