Given this time of Thanksgiving, we often neglect to give thanks to folks and even enterprises that make our lives richer and better in all kinds of ways.

Your newspaper falls in “the overlooked and taken for granted” category. I’m taking this opportunity to thank the editors and staff for your support and coverage of the United Way of the Greater Miss-Lou, in general and of our fundraising activities, and broad community support, in particular.

The coverage of the Isle of Capri fundraiser on Monday and the editorial  “No such thing as small donations” on Tuesday are just some of the examples of The Democrat reminding the readers of the importance of individual giving to worthy charities that provide assistance to those in need in these perilous economic times.

Our United Way agencies, although not totally dependent on what they receive from us, use their allotments to leverage other sources of funds and to show major givers that the community stands behind their efforts in providing health and social services to the deserving. Thank you!

Mike Gemmell

Chairman, United Way