If you seldom hear a shout-out or never get nominated for being the best, if you think you are invisible and what you do does not make a difference, this letter is for you.

If you have ever put 50 cents in a donation jar, volunteered to help anywhere, baked, cooked, babysat, or taxied for a fundraiser or a friend, give yourself a big hug from me. Your collective contributions equal a majority of what makes any place in our world a softer place to live. I am not diminishing in any way the people that have generous monetary contributions to give, you definitely rise as the cream to the top of a gallon of farm-fresh milk. This letter is for the remaining three-fourths of the container that may sometimes wish they had more. If you shared whatever resource you had to share, then in my opinion, you gave as much, if not more than someone that may easily get recognition because they gave largely with no sacrifice of personal comfort. I applaud you loudly and I believe you are the rebar in the  foundation that holds up our community.

I am proud to live among all of you, if you have had the honor of a differently-abled person help you with your groceries, volunteer at your facility, hold your door for you, give you a high five or just give you a smile, remember to thank them, you have just brushed wings with a hero. I have heard the term “haves and have nots” too many times. I do not like it, we are all equalized by compassion and kindness.

Thank you for being uniquely you, I wish you peace, love and a cushion when you encounter the inevitable stresses of life.

Carmen Moe

North Bend