Helping others is what makes life worth living

"Many small people, in many small places, do many small things that can alter the face of the world." -- Unknown.

There are many organizations and groups that help support and give aid to people in other countries that are in need of help. I am pleased to see so many Americans that dedicate their lives to the service of others. It is around this time of the year that it also becomes so obvious how many people there are in our own area that need help as well.

Last week nearly all the employees of the Sheriff's Office bought a toy to take to the Vernon County Ambulance building for their toy drive. When we arrived, we found others from the community going in and out, also bringing in gifts for the children that the Vernon County EMS will be distributing.

The Nevada Police Department has also been collecting money for their "Shop with a Cop" program they do each year, and other organizations have been collecting coats and other items that families in the area are in need of.

Saint Augustine said, "What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the signs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like."

According to the National Poverty Center, there are tens of thousands of children in the United States that live in poverty. That means thousands of children this Christmas will be more concerned with staying warm and getting something to eat than what they will receive, with even hoping to have a Merry Christmas.

I have always thought that if you cannot make a difference in someone else's life, you have wasted your own. The community has rallied together to help the children in our area this holiday season, and we want to help not just the children, but the entire family!

This year, the Vernon County Sheriff's Office will be preparing Christmas dinners for a few families in the area that could use a little help. Sheriff's Office employees will be spending Christmas Eve cooking meals and will give up part of their Christmas day to make sure those families have a hot, home-cooked meal delivered to their home.

This next week, the Sheriff's Office will be accepting food donations from anyone who would like to take part in helping make someone else's Christmas just a little bit better.