It’s time to get out the wallets and the hammers.
Friday is a workday east of Kyle, as an impromptu – well, almost impromptu – coalition of local residents will be working on the home of a local couple.
Just a few weeks ago, when a windstorm was ripping down fences and uprooting trees, an elderly couple, Chuck Sherwood and Sherry Cryer, found that their roof was about to be blown off.
They had no family locally, they didn’t necessarily want the help. But they knew they couldn’t really get their place back in order as they had no insurance and no money.
The Sherwoods had planned to stay overnight in their trailer, even as the temperature dropped.
All it took for the community to get involved was one photo placed on the Facebook page and website of the Hays Free Press.
Residents came pouring in with offers of help, and one person, Noel Rodriguez, stepped up to the plate and organized the workday. Another local resident, Rick Rodriguez, contacted Heroes Night Out, which helps veterans in need.
And so a workday has been organized. But, there is still need for monies to help on this project and others. Noel Rodriguez set up a donation acceptance through his church, Promised Land. (See story, page 1C)
Please give. It is a worthwhile project.
But this giving also brings to mind all the other groups that help day in and day out.
The Hays County Food Bank, for example, has been hit with requests for more and more food. As the Hays County population continues to expand, social services are being stretched. The food bank is just one organization in need of funds.
Other organziations, local libraries in Kyle and Buda provide computers so that those without jobs can turn in applications. Even as the number of jobs are increasing, there are still many people out of work, or under-employed. The libraries are filling the gaps in getting people help during trying times. They need money to continue their efforts.
Veterans programs help veterans, churches help members and non-members alike.
So, as those of us with jobs think about spending the night in a cold trailer with a flapping roof, open the wallets to the organizations trying to fill the gaps where governmental social services are lagging.
It takes all of us, even if it is one workday at a time, to help each other out.
