Dear Editor,

The feel of cooler weather is in the air, and with it comes the holiday season, the season of giving, and €”for some €”the Season of Hunger. Grant County is not a stranger to economic hard times; and, as the area again faces lay-offs at the mine, this holiday season will be a difficult one for many of our residents.

The Volunteer Center of Grant County, who reaches more than 1,000 families per month with food services throughout the county, is having to work harder than ever to help the needy in our local communities. In addition to the current economic stresses, the country and our local area have not recovered from the most recent recession, and all government programs €”such as SNAP, TEFAP, and commodities programs €”have been cut. Food banks are stretched thin, distributing fewer and fewer food items; and what they are distributing does not contain enough healthy food.

How can we in Grant County help alleviate hunger in our own community during this Season of Hunger? We can "Give Local!" That is, instead of choosing to donate funds to organizations outside Grant County, who are part of large organizations with correspondingly large overhead for staff and long-distance distribution costs, we can donate funds to The Volunteer Center. This means that the funds go directly to a local organization with extremely low overhead, which also "Buys Local," thus helping sustain our local economy.

October is Hunger Awareness Month, and The Volunteer Center will be conducting two food drives in October, as well as hosting a special fundraising event €”the First Annual Uncommonly Good Evening at The Commons €”on October 24, 2015.

So pull out your checkbook and "Give Local" to The Volunteer Center. Your contribution will directly benefit hungry and disadvantaged Grant County citizens €”young, old, and in between.

Most sincerely,

Charlie McKee
Grant County Resident