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Possibilities: Working together can make miracles happen

How many of us have a number in our heads — a dollar amount that, if received, would create a little breathing room … ease a worry?

For more fortunate families, that number might be daunting — maybe enough to pay off a large credit card bill, pay off a car or finish off a mortgage. Having numbers that big to worry about is a blessing, though we don’t often think of it that way.

For some families in the Belpre City Schools system one number hanging over their heads was much smaller, but in many ways, more important. It was the amount still owed for outstanding meal bills while their children were in school last year. Thank goodness the Belpre community is filled with kind people who knew they could take away that worry.

“At the end of last year before COVID shut the schools down, we had a number of groups that generously volunteered and paid off the negative lunch balances. Everyone this year is starting out with a clean slate,” said Lance Erlwein, treasurer for Belpre City Schools.

Fred Hart, Rockland United Methodist Church, and the Southern Cruisers Club donated $1,500 to take care of the problem. Though we don’t have details, let’s say for the sake of argument that means each of the three donated $500.

That’s still a hefty donation, but for plenty of Mid-Ohio Valley families, it is doable. (Frankly, for a few it is a relatively small amount of money.)

If you have ever looked at a problem — looked at ways to ease burdens for those who are struggling — you may have thought you were not able to give enough to make a difference … to take that worry away. Maybe not, on your own, but as this example in Belpre shows, it does not take many banding together to have that larger impact.

Yes, you can help. Yes, the amount you have to give is enough. Gather a few friends, and the possibilities are endless.

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