The generosity of our community, as well as the volunteerism of its residents, was on full display last week.

Before we prepare for the week ahead, let’s take a moment to look back at some of the highlights from last week:

-Vidalia’s Feed the Hungry program received a boost in funding after the organization sold barbecue plates at last week’s Jim Bowie Festival using donated pork from the Kansas City Barbecue Society, which sanctioned the event. The Concordia Parish agency, which provides boxes of foods for needy local residents, used the nearly $1,400 to fix the program’s aging delivery truck and pay for a month of food. We’re glad to see the program be able to continue to help needy residents in our area.

-Betty Lou Eidt Hicks has provided volunteer services for the Cathedra Fall Festival for 44 years simply because she loves helping. As a child, Hicks would go to the festival while attending Cathedral, and now at 67, Hicks keeps going to help the school in anyway she can. Festival organizers and school leaders count on Hicks to be there for whatever they need. Hick’s volunteer spirit is what makes our community so great.

-Four-legged friends and their owners from across the Miss-Lou gathered at Grace United Methodist Church to receive a blessing during the church’s annual blessing of the animals event. The event coincided with the feast day of 11th century Catholic Saint Francis of Assisi, who is considered the patron saint of animals. As the church’s pastor said, animals matter to the Lord, and we’re glad to see these blessings offered in our community.

Let’s take advantage of the cooler weather by going out and doing great things in our community this week.