Contributed by Eddie Ezelle
In looking back over the years and what I have submitted to The People’s Paper, the vast majority has been thank you’s to the community. With the issues starting about March this year, we have really had to step forward to help.
Even with their own problems, loss of jobs, loved ones and generally having to change lifestyles and become more introverted, things have not been very good for anyone in 2020.
But the sacrifices our volunteers endure is phenomenal. The disregard for some personal comfort to help others is not seen by a lot of the public. They are your unsung heroes, your frontline soldiers and neighbors. These are some of the very people sacrificing their health and safety to help others. Not everyone can do this, most that do, do not even realize the bravery and courage they have to help others.
In spite of all this, so many of you have stood up and continue to stand up and see the need of others that makes me appreciate the community that I have chosen to be a part of all these years. Our diversity here in the Valley is wide and deep, but we support each other in so many ways.
The MatSu Food Bank has grown in the 11-12 years I have been the Director and is not in any small part because of your support regardless of the changing times.
The holidays around Christmas can be tough on families one way or another, but our volunteers always are the ones to comfort, greet with a smile and try to make someone’s day better. Without realizing it sometimes is me.
So, I would like to salute my volunteers and hope you will too by supporting our cause that “no one should go hungry”.
Merry Christmas and may your Holidays be safe.
And let’s look for 2021 to be better!
Eddie