Be thankful for the support groups that help so many in Washington County

Well! You can really tell that fall has arrived with the cooler days, windy weather, and overcast skies. Although I don’t always look forward to winter, as it is my least favorite time of year, I do enjoy the changes in the seasons since they add variety and change the pace of life.
 This last Saturday was the annual Angel Wings Network Walk/Run. There was quite a turnout for the event which seemed to go very smoothly. This is the main fund raiser for this organization each year.
 For those of you who don’t know, Angel Wings Network is a local group who provide emotional and logistical support for cancer patients, their families, and even caregivers. The members give this support by giving rides to and from appointments and treatments, providing gas cards, and a number of other ways including just being a friend.
 Weiser is very fortunate to have this service. Thank you to all of the volunteers who provide this support when families are in need due to cancer.
 And speaking of people in need, Weiser is fortunate to have other selfless organizations that provide help for people in the community.
 One of those organizations is Love INC of Washington County. Love INC is part of a national organization serving the spiritual, mental, emotional, relational, material, and physical needs of underserved people.
 Last year I had the privilege of touring the local operation with Pam Burris the director. I was impressed by not only the range of services provided, but the thoughtfulness with which the services were intelligently provided.
 In addition to providing food, they teach food preparation. In addition to financial services, they teach financial management. In addition to providing for material needs, they teach life skills in ways that government agencies are not able to. And these examples illustrate just a small part of what they do. We are truly blessed to have these workers and volunteers among us.
 Another organization that provides a vital service to Weiser and the surrounding area is ROSE Advocates.
 ROSE Advocates helps people who are some of the most vulnerable of us – domestic and sexual violence victims.
 This dedicated team provides protection, counseling, and life rehabilitation to those who have had experiences no one should ever go through. Their compassion, determination, and comfort have helped more people in our community than most of us would care to admit. Again, we should all be very appreciative for each of the workers and volunteers that meet these needs.
 There are many other groups and organizations in town that meet a variety of needs in the community. The ones named above are just a few. Communities such as ours cannot function effectively without dedicated volunteers who fill in the gaps. If you are not already involved, please consider volunteering in an area that is of interest to you. Volunteering is rewarding, educational, and can be life altering.
 Well, that’s it for this week. Let’s all be thankful for the volunteers among us who make life better in ways most of us don’t ever see.