The News Editorial: Opportunities to give more abundant during a pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a desire to keep everyone healthy and safe, Pinnacle Bank made the tough decision to cancel this year’s Festival of Trees.

The festival showcases wreaths and trees decorated by businesses and organizations, along with other Christmas décor, which are then sold at an auction to help support dozens of organizations and groups.

Tuesday was “Giving Tuesday” but there is still plenty of time to give this Christmas season, giving to help others.

The Worland Food Pantry is always looking for monetary or non-expired, non-perishable food items.

The Food Pantry is open from 9 to 11 am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call 347-6123 for more information during business hours. The pantry is located at 620 Big Horn Avenue.

In addition to the food pantry, the Washakie County Ministerial Association is doing its annual Christmas Baskets and Angel Tree program. Angel Trees with suggested gifts for children in the community are located at several businesses in the community including Blair’s, Big Horn Cooperative and Security State Bank.

Applications for families to sign up for the program were due prior to Thanksgiving but donations to help these families are being accepted.

Here at the Northern Wyoming News we are sponsoring our third annual Silver Tree for Seniors. We have about 35 seniors from the Worland community who could use a little help to make their Christmas bright. Come pick up a bell and return the gift to the Northern Wyoming News by Dec. 15. The gifts will be delivered to the Worland Senior Center for specific distribution to the seniors, and to the Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation to the residents on the list.

And if those opportunities are not where you feel led to give, consider one of the many groups that usually seek funding from the Festival of Trees, including, but not limited to the Worland Community Center Complex, VFW 3093 Auxiliary, D.A.R.E., Search and Rescue, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Worland Fire Department, Washakie County 4-H, Worland Community Garden, Worland Middle School Choices That Matter, Elks Diaper Bank, Children’s Resource Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Washakie Hospital Foundation, Washakie Museum & Cultural Center, American Legion, Washakie County Youth Alternatives, Worland Youth Learning Center, Big Horn Enterprises, Wyoming Championship BBQ & Bluegrass Festival, Washakie County Special Olympics, O.W.L. Unlimited, Washakie County Library System, Friends of Ten Sleep Library, Friends of Washakie County Library, Crisis Prevention and Response Center, Bighorn Enterprises and Worland Aquatic Center.

There is also the Worland and Ten Sleep Senior Centers who look to be having budget cuts due to the downturn in the economy. And don’t forget helping our furry friends at New Hope Humane Society, money, food or newspapers are appreciated.

Everywhere you look there are opportunities to give locally to help someone you know, a neighbor, a co-worker, a fellow resident or even a stranger in your community.

In Thermopolis there is the Thermopolis Senior Center and the People For People program.

Many of these organizations hold fundraisers to help keep the services they provide going but in a year of the COVID-19 pandemic and many health restrictions fundraisers have been canceled or scaled back.

By helping local charities you are helping your community.

So, if you are looking to give this Christmas, look to give locally first, the need here is just as great or greater as the many national and global charities that have money to advertise on television or send you free gifts in the mail. You may not get a free “gift” when you give locally but you will be blessed by knowing you helped your neighbor have a merrier Christmas.

Karla Pomeroy