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One of the many things I've always loved about this community is how we find ways to take care and look out for each other.
It's something I learned from an early age, as National Steel decided to leave Weirton with many of our local steelworkers losing their jobs prior to the ESOP agreements and all that followed. People rallied to help their neighbors in whatever way they could, even if it was something as seemingly minor as sharing a meal.
For many years, the Weirton United Way served this community through fundraisers and other efforts to support the dozen or so local organizations which served, and continue to serve, the people of Weirton. The Weirton United Way may be gone, but the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley is now a part of our community, and will continue to do whatever it can to make sure those organizations continue to receive support.
Recently, we brought word of a new effort in town to provide meals for some of our city's residents on Christmas Eve.
The effort was started through members of various churches and some civic organizations, receiving support from the Salvation Army, the City of Weirton and donations from many other groups and businesses.
The initial plan had been to offer the meals to residents of the high-rise apartments in town, many of whom might not have family in the area. Like many things in Weirton, though, it has grown beyond those original plans, and offers also are being made to some of the group homes in town.
Organizers also have noted, any additional meals will be available from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church for anyone else who might want one. It will be there until it is gone.
It's similar to the long-standing efforts in our community for Thanksgiving, which has been under the auspices of the Weirton Ministerial Association. Meals are prepared at All Saints, with support of local volunteers and organizations. Many of those meals are then delivered to local shut-ins, and then anyone in the community is welcomed later in the day to the Weirton Senior Center.
I've had the privilege of helping out with the Thanksgiving dinner on a couple of occasions, and it's truly an amazing thing to see as groups of residents gather to contribute toward an effort to bring a little cheer to the lives of others.
My hope is this new Christmas Even dinner program is able to continue and grow in the years ahead, providing cheer, companionship and a sense of community for all who partake and contribute.
We often see Weirton rally together when it comes to things like sports, but it also is nice to see the same sense of community when the chips are down, or when a neighbor is in need. As we get closer to the arrival of Christmas, with Hanukkah already under way, and other celebrations on the horizon, we often turn to the thought of giving to others.
Giving isn't always about a physical gift, and knowing these efforts are moving forward in Weirton, and seeing the work and passion that is being put into them, I know of no better example. It would do us all a little good to keep that in mind in the coming weeks and to keep that same spirit through the other parts of the year.
(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter @CHowellWDT)