It seems like people in need living in small, rural communities are often forgotten – resources are thin and adequate help can be hard to come by. That situation has been exacerbated during the last nine months thanks to this pandemic, which jeopardized economic stability in many households.

Communities are only as good as the people that comprise them. In the Hartley area, we've got a good group.

You don't have to look too hard to find the giving spirit around these parts. There's Hartley Community Outreach, which was started this year by four local women to assist families in need with clothes, toys and other goods. There's also the H-M-S Giving Tree Project, which you can read all about in this week's paper. Of course, we can't forget the H-M-S Backpack program that provides snack items and light meals to needy students over the weekends. It has seen an increased need over the last year and is aided by contributions from area businesses as well as many volunteer hours by local folks. There are also the food pantries at Trinity United Church of Christ in Hartley and Hope Lutheran Church in Everly. Both do fantastic work at providing essentials to local residents in a tight spot.

These types of programs shouldn't be taken for granted. Though you may have been fortunate enough to have avoided them in your life, they provide a vital service for individuals in this community. The people and organizations behind them aren't in it for the recognition; however, they certainly deserve some credit during the season of giving. They've impacted more lives than they can possibly imagine.

Consider giving to someone you'll never know this holiday season. Times are hard and you may be surprised who's in need. We live in a generous community and it warms the heart to know that we all have each other's backs during hard times. There's no slogan in the state that fits its community better than the City With a Heart.